The Group Chief Executive Officer, Global Properties and Facilities International, Dr. Mohammed Balogun, has decried the small contribution of facility management to the World’s gross domestic product.
Balogun disclosed this at the just concluded conference organised by the Association of Facility Management Practitioners of Nigeria, themed: ‘Integrating Facilities Management into the Built Environment,’ which was held in Lagos.
He said, “Appreciation of the value of facility management is essential, there is a lot to be done, like adequate awareness. Lots of buildings are not being managed properly, hence we cannot categorise them as facility management, and people are still doing maintenance the old way.
“The role of facility managers is important. It has a 55-year minimum life span of a building, but now we have a construction and design maximum of 5 years, and those who build do not think about facility management. Also, facility managers can help people to save money by proffering adequate maintenance, hence obviating waste and enhancing sustainability. “
In the same vein, the Deputy President, Association of Facilities Management Practitioners, Nigeria, Dr Olumide Aina, said facility management needed more advocacy and must be integrated at the conceptualisation stage and design stage.
He said, “We need to publicise the value of facility management more, form more relationships with key bodies that the engineers, project managers, among others, because most people see facility management as a secondary profession. Most people feel that once a structure has been erected, the whole trouble can be transferred to a facility manager if such a building encounters any issue, and at that time, facility managers face a lot of challenges that could have been resolved at the design stage.
“Our role is very strategic, and until awareness of our essence is done, we would still be grappling with low demands, low valuation, locally and globally.”
A member of the Association, Paul Erubami, said the contravention of the Nigerian Building Code had been fueling the incessant collapse of buildings.
He said, “There are standards to be complied with, such as soil testing, structural analysis, load analysis, and poor operations and maintenance standards, which if not complied with, would continually lead to collapses among others. Hence, we have a lot to do in terms of capacity building, orientation, and advocacy.”
