Infrastructure asset management in Lagos State has become a good practice and culture that has been prioritised by the current Administration as an integral part of its T.H.E.M.E.S. (acronyms for Traffic Management and Transportation; Health and Environment; Education and Technology; Making Lagos a 21st Economy; Entertainment and Tourism; Security and Governance) Developmental Agenda.
The Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Administration, having realised the strategic importance of infrastructure facility management as a driver of economic growth, has adopted a proactive approach to develop a maintenance regulatory framework. Consequently, government’s provision of new infrastructure to address backlogs from the past has not posed a problem to its holistic and aggressive maintenance implementation agenda.
What has been in operation in the last 420 days in Lagos has, no doubt, turned the ‘Centre of Excellence’ into a huge construction site. In-spite of this, however, concerted attention is being given maintenance of existing infrastructure facility to ensure optimal performance.
The Lagos State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA) is charged with the responsibilities of ensuring proper management and maintenance of all Lagos State assets and infrastructure.
Currently, the Agency is being uniquely positioned to play a more visible role in the present administration’s efforts to deliver on the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda. LASIAMA has embarked upon an aggressive infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance drive in critical public facilities such as schools, hospitals, and other such public buildings across the State.
A throwback to recent maintenance work carried out at the State health facilities by LASIAMA mirrored the commitment of the Sanwo-Olu Administration to better healthcare for all Lagosians.
Some of the government infrastructure recently handled by the Agency include facility management of Mother and Child Centre, MCC, Eti-Osa, (non-clinical and clinical), facility management of Lagos State University College of Medicine, LASUCOM, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Accident and Emergency, College of Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health Igando, Mother and Child Centre, MCC, Alimosho, Mainland Hospital, Yaba, among others.
In accordance with the directives of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, LASIAMA carried out condition assessment of Lagos State Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in the State. Thus, 60 worst schools submitted by the Ministry of Education were assessed.
The Agency has since completed renovation of 20 schools and on course to complete maintenance work in another 23 in the second phase of its maintenance activities.
The list of schools receiving facelift in the second phase, according to the schedule include: Surulere Senior Secondary School; Adebola Baptist Senior High School, Surulere; Estate Junior Grammar School, Ilupeju; Keme Balogun Senior Grammar School, Ikorodu; Ipakodo Junior Grammar School, Ikorodu; and Fagba Junior Grammar School, Iju Station.
Others are Ogombo Community Junior Secondary School, Lekki; Elegbata Junior High School, Elegbata; and Oke-Odo Junior High School, Ebute-Metta, among others.
The scope of work done in the schools includes plumbing, electrical, windows and doors repairs, while damaged roofs and walls, toilet and other essential features were equally fixed to make them conducive and functional.
Without a doubt, the State Government, through LASIAMA, is doing a lot to improve the maintenance of the State’s public infrastructure facilities. This is to demonstrate the commitment of the current Administration to proper public infrastructure maintenance culture.
Obviously, investing in infrastructure asset maintenance offers outstanding opportunities for job creation and ensures that public facilities perform optimally. Thousands of artisans as well as stakeholders in the building sector had and are benefitting from the facility management and renovation work through job opportunities.
Also of note is the collaboration between the Agency and the School Principals, being major stakeholders on the on-going rehabilitation projects. The principals were involved in supervising the projects. That was in addition to supervisory role of the Special Project and Facility Management departments of the agency.
While the importance of the provision of infrastructure to support socio-economic growth has been well-recognised within government, the potential of infrastructure maintenance as a powerful tool of economic growth and service delivery needs to come more to the fore. It is, thus, good enough that the Lagos State Government is taking the matter of facility management seriously.
Meanwhile, LASIAMA is also embarking on renovation projects on several MDAs within the State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja. For instance, at the Cabinet Office, LASIAMA has completed renovation of the Drivers’ Lodge, Security Post, entrance stairs and ramp. Also completed is the rehabilitation of damaged roof and plumbing at Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget as well as the Deputy Governor’s office, while the renovation of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency building is at 60 percent.
In all this, it is important to stress that LASIAMA maintains and manages infrastructure asset based on international best practices. But then, while the State Government via LASIAMA is doing its best to preserve public infrastructure and assets, Lagos residents are urged to equally play their role by ensuring that public facilities across the State are guarded jealously, as the State has many needs to use its scarce resources on.
Musbau is Assistant Director, Public Affairs, LASIAMA
