PurposeThis paper seeks to adopt an investigative approach to post‐occupancy evaluation using major technical and functional criteria of performance on the facilities of a postgraduate hostel at the campus of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachData collection was based on a survey through self‐administered questionnaires in which users of the building were asked to report on their perceptions and experience of the facility. The user satisfaction survey was developed based on the students' feedback on their experience with 29 identified performance criteria obtained from a review of the literature and an interview with a member of the university's hall management committee. Data at the organizational level were collected by personal interviews with the facilities manager and co‐ordinator of hostels of the university.FindingsThe user satisfaction survey identified areas of deficiency, particularly in maintenance, and facilitated the assessment of the overall performance of the building.Originality/valueThis study demonstrates how universities in Nigeria can assess the management of hostel facilities by hostel administrators and facilities managers. Apart from the results of the user satisfaction survey being useful as evidence to access funds for the improvement of student hostel facilities, the feedback will be helpful in the design and management of new hostel facilities.

Problems of theft and vandalism is paramount issues related to building sites. The incidence of theft and vandalism sometimes depend on the nature of construction work and these vary among housing developments, roads and highways construction, dam structures, airport, and stadia construction. This study investigates the nature of theft & vandalism and security control on building site to curb the endemic effect through diversity of security technologies. A purposive sampling technique was adopted for the study. Opinion survey questionnaires were administered to construction professionals in the three categories of construction firms; large construction, medium construction and small construction firms and literature was also reviewed. The data collected was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Study revealed that more theft and vandalism are experienced large construction firms than medium and small firms. Construction professionals agree to identify causes of losses and considered all security component/ measures to be important.