Evaluating the Impact of Technological Security Measures on Mitigating Theft and Vandalism in Public Building Construction Projects in Nigeria

Several construction sites in Nigeria face significant challenges related to theft and vandalism, leading to financial losses, project delays, and low quality. The study aims to evaluate the impact of technological security measures and its effectiveness in preventing theft and vandalism on construction sites in Nigeria. The study adopts a descriptive design and employs a questionnaire- to collect data from respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as mean, frequency, and regression were used to analyze the data. Major findings reported significant incidents of theft and vandalism occurring in construction sites, with construction material theft as the most common incident. In addition, these incidents often result in substantial financial losses. Similarly, most of the contractors utilise technologies like smart locks and GPS tracking to prevent theft and vandalism, but there is still a significant portion that is not aware of or utilising these technologies on sites. Moreover, the regression shows a significant contribution of technologies in curbing the incidence of theft and vandalism. Additionally, the data suggests that factors such as lack of training and funding as the barriers to technology adoption, with a notable majority willing to invest in new technologies to improve security measures. The study recommends that increasing funding, awareness, and training, along with the installation of surveillance cameras, are key to promoting the effective utilisation of these technologies. This study contributed to the body of knowledge on construction site security and provided practical recommendations for improving security measures against theft and vandalism on sites.