The Lagos State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA) has held a two-day management retreat for its core staff at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Lagos on November 14 to 15, 2024.
The retreat, which brought together key players in the facility management and infrastructure sectors, aimed to sharpen the agency’s strategic direction, improve operational efficiency, and drive sustainability in facility management across Lagos State.
Bamidele Ajileye, Facility Management Operations Executive and representative of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), highlighted the critical role of facility maintenance in ensuring the longevity and operational efficiency of state assets. He challenged the conventional mindset of “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it”, emphasising the need for proactive and strategic facility management practices.
Ajileye highlighted the importance of using approaches like Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) alongside Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to optimise maintenance and minimise disruptions. He stressed that effective facility management begins with clear objectives, adequate resource allocation, and the implementation of best practices.
Emphasising the significant benefits of integrating sustainability into facility maintenance projects, Ajileye advocated for setting clear sustainability objectives – such as reducing carbon emissions, minimizing waste, and promoting social equity—and engaging stakeholders to ensure that these initiatives align with the needs of both the community and the environment.
Also Speaking, Mr. Segun Adebayo, Immediate Past President of IFMA, praised the Lagos State Government for its institutional support of infrastructure asset management through the establishment of LASIAMA.
He reflected on the government’s proactive approach, referencing Executive Order II issued by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022, which mandates the integration of facility management into public sector operations. This initiative, according to Adebayo, was inspired by the efforts of LASIAMA’s General Manager during her time working in Abuja.
Adebayo further commended LASIAMA for its innovative approach to refurbishing buildings at the State Secretariat, Alausa, noting the emphasis on maintainability, cost-effectiveness, and attention to detail.
He also underscored the importance of viewing facility management as an essential, ongoing process that impacts not only the physical infrastructure but also the lives of the people it serves.
The General Manager of LASIAMA closed the retreat by emphasising the agency’s significant impact on job creation and service delivery in Lagos State. She highlighted one of the Agency’s key initiatives: the systematic documentation of facility conditions before and after renovation projects. She urged project officers to ensure that clear visual evidence of the state of facilities is captured during every renovation, and that the relevant authorities duly endorse all scope of work before project execution begins.
The General Manager also stressed the importance of engaging end-users in the planning process, ensuring their sign-off on the proposed scope of work. This collaboration, she noted, is essential to the success of facility management projects and ensuring the sustainability of public infrastructure.