Experts in facility management have said
the maintenance of infrastructure in the country should not be left in
the hands of the government alone.
Indeed, they posited that the private
sector should be involved, as it would be futile to leave the provision
as well as the maintenance of certain critical infrastructure to
government’s management.
According to them, a mutually beneficial
collaboration between the government and the private sector is important
to achieving the desired momentum in economic growth occasioned by
adequate and functional infrastructure and housing.
This was the conclusion of experts at the
2014 facility management roundtable organised recently in commemoration
of the World Facility Day by Alpha Mead Facilities and Management
Services Limited, with the theme, ‘Towards optimal performance of
critical infrastructure and real estate sets in Nigeria.’
They urged the government not to relent in engaging the private sector.
The Secretary to Lagos State Government,
Dr. Oluranti Adeule, said there was a need to change the attitude
towards the provision and maintenance of infrastructure as a people and
government.
Adebule, who was represented by Mr.
Demola Amure, listed the infrastructural facilities as power, water
supply and management, agriculture, telecommunications, transportation
and roads as well as health institutions.
The SSG stressed that they were critical for the functioning of the society and the economy.
She said, “Nigerians have come to the
hard realisation that our economy would remain a toddler if we do not
prioritise the provision of quality infrastructure and stimulate decent
real estate system.
“Cities that have developed around the
world rode on the back of working mortgage and real estate system and
provision of infrastructure to create enabling and conducive environment
for businesses to thrive.
“The Dubai experience is an obvious
example. It is unthinkable that in the 21st century, any country or
people will contemplate a thriving economy without providing the two
critical components of infrastructure and housing.”
Adebule said the best way for the
government to stimulate development and growth was to create conducive
environment for businesses to thrive.
She noted, “It must be stressed that
government’s role is that of an enabler, the provider of a favourable
and enabling atmosphere for businesses to expand.”
According to her, Lagos State had used
the model and succeeded in many aspects of its economy such in the real
estate with the Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme and in the transportation
sector with the Bus Rapid Transit.
“The state government investment in the
BRT system was such that it provided the enabling law, the dedicated
lanes infrastructure, facilitated financial backing for private
operators, regulated the system and also provided its own buses in
addition.
“This has introduced decency into public
transportation and encouraged many Lagosians to drop their cars in
favour of the mass transit facility; a decent and functional mass
transit system will have positive impact on time spent in doing
business, promote cleaner air and healthier environment and ultimately
stimulate economic growth.”
She said while the government was trying
to provide an enabling environment for private investors, there should
also be investment in human development in facility management.
She added that the major challenge with
the facility management sector in the country was the shortage of
skilled labour in critical areas including bricklaying, tile laying and
painting.
The Chief Executive Officer of
AMFacilities, Mr. Femi Akintunde, said given the recent rebasing of the
country’s Gross Domestic Product as the largest in Africa, it was
imperative that there should be a robust structure and strategy to
guarantee adequate provision and efficient management of the public
infrastructure required to support such a large economy.
He stated that one of the major setbacks
to the oil boom years was a lack of sustainable, long term framework and
warned that the government should not be caught in the same web again.
“That is why we must challenge the government not to relent in its efforts to continually engage the private sector,” he said.
Akintunde said the land use reform and
the creation of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Corporation would also
help to improve the provision of adequate funding for the housing
sector, which he said was in dire need of intervention.
He said while the impact of all
government’s interventions in recent times might not be immediately felt
by the average Nigerian, with patience, a shared sense of
responsibility and commitment to progress, everyone would benefit from
the gains.
He however advised the government to
sustain the ongoing public private sector initiative, adding that there
had been significant improvement in infrastructure since it began.
Other experts who spoke at the roundtable also highlighted the importance of green buildings in the country.
The speakers also identified the reason
and importance of going green, which they said was the future of
facility management and preservation of the environment.
The General Manager, Technical,
AMFacilities, Mr. Shina Oliyide, while speaking on ‘The evolution of
green buildings in Nigeria: A myth or reality’, said there should be
attempts to construct buildings that would be sustainable.
“Projects have been done without
consideration for going green; but if you have a building that is not
green, you can upgrade it,” he said.
He said stakeholders in the sector should
take the responsibility of setting the facility management agenda in
the country as well as the continent.
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