FOR sustenance of public projects and infrastructure, the Lagos State Government is proposing an executive bill on facility management that would lead to the establishment of Facility Management Commission in the state.

The Bill, if eventually passed by the Lagos House of Assembly, would among others, empower the body to monitor various projects, especially, public infrastructures.  Also, the bill will enthrone the culture of maintenance in Lagos.

Giving the hint in a media chat on the activities of his ministry last week, the Commissioner For Works and Infrastructure in Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, hinted that such bill becomes imperative in the face of high cost of projects and the dwindling resources accrued to Lagos state.

According to him, there is no wisdom in the provision of infrastructure with high cost and not being able to maintain them. “Besides, it is part of our vision that every project that we put in place must last the expected life span, by which only what the successive government would need to do is renovation or rehabilitation as the case may be’.

Hamzat cited the example of what is obtainable in the developed society where the cost of maintaining a project is not more that 2.5 percent of the total cost of such project at a given time. “So, our schools, roads, hospitals and similar infrastructure and projects would be structured along that premise that the cost of maintaining them would not be more that 2.5 percent or less”.

On the projected activities by his ministry in 2013, the commissioner said the plan is to ensure the completion of all outstanding projects. He noted that 443 roads have been completed, while 183 are ongoing, stating that 2013 budget would focus on the ongoing projects.

However, contrary to the statement credited to the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolemenmen, that Lagos State Government is seeking partnership with the Federal Government on the ongoing Orile-Iganmu–Badagry Expressway expansion, Hamzat said there is no iota of truth in the statement, the commissioner said the state is not averse to any form of assistance from the federal government.

“If not for anything, the peculiar situation of Lagos, as the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, coupled with the multi-various federal government institutions and its overwhelming population, it is not out of order for federal government to come to our aid”, said Hamzat, adding that it was in that spirit that calls were made to the federal government to give Lagos special status on its allocation.

Rather than saying we are seeking partnership on the completion of Badagry expressway project, Lagos would appreciate support from federal government by paying the outstanding N51b indebted.

The money is the amount expended by the state to fix federal roads in the state.  He also added that what Lagos is seeking from Abuja is the rehabilitation of Apapa-TinCan-Oworonshoki Expressway, which he said required urgent attention.

“While Lagos is not opposed to any assistance that the federal government would offer, it is necessary to state that what we are expecting from Abuja is payment of N51 billion, being the outstanding monies owing us. Besides, the Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki expressway requires urgent attention. These are the areas that we need the cooperation. But on the issue of Orile-Badagry expansion project, it is purely our project and we have never sought any assistance in that direction. Not to the best of my knowledge”, said Hamzat, stressing that the project is ongoing as scheduled.

Explaining the scope of works on the project, Hamzat said that contrary to the perceived slowness in construction activities along the expressway, noted that the peculiarity of the project would suggest that work is not in progress.

However, to a discerning mind, especially, those who understand the chemistry of road construction of this magnitude, what is on ground now is sufficient to show that a great deal of work has being done.

One of the challenges we are facing is the pilling of Mile2-Oshodi interchange, as we have secured right of way from Lot 2 to Okokomaiko axis. Also, there are some construction activities going on that are not visible.

Take the issue of drain pillars for example. They are being produced somewhere outside the site. When the need arises, such materials would just be moved to the site”.