Get Guardian on GoogleThe Federal Government is promoting technology-driven and preventive maintenance systems to improve the management, efficiency and sustainability of public buildings and infrastructure across the country.
The government said adopting digital maintenance solutions and strengthening collaboration with professional bodies would help preserve public assets, reduce operational costs and ensure that investments in buildings deliver long-term value.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr Shuaib Mohammad Lamido Belgore, stated this at the inauguration of the Abuja Branch of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Nigeria Chapter, held alongside the association’s 2026 Advocacy Day in Abuja.
Belgore, represented by the Director and Head of the Federal Public Assets Maintenance Department, Arch. Chioma Wogu-Ogbonna, said the ministry was advancing the use of digital maintenance systems while pursuing partnerships with IFMA to strengthen professional standards, build capacity and support policies for sustainable facility management across federal government assets.
The event, held at the Platinum LEED-certified AFREXIM African Trade Centre, featured discussions on the theme, “Beyond Maintenance: Leveraging Technology for Sustainable Facility Management Practice in Nigeria.”
The discussions highlighted the need for Nigeria’s building industry to move beyond the construction and delivery of buildings to embrace professional management, preventive maintenance and technology-driven operations throughout the life cycle of infrastructure.
Speaking at the event, President of IFMA Nigeria, Sheriff Daramola, said effective facility management was essential to preserving the value of buildings, improving operational efficiency and ensuring safe and healthy environments for occupants.
He noted that facility management went beyond routine repairs to encompass energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, responsible procurement, asset longevity and the adoption of innovative technologies.
Daramola, an engineer, said Nigeria’s peculiar operating conditions, including unreliable energy supply, infrastructure constraints and rising operating costs, made it imperative for facility managers to develop practical and sustainable solutions.
He urged government institutions, property owners, businesses, educational institutions and service providers to work with qualified facility management professionals to improve the planning, operation and maintenance of public and private assets.
According to him, Abuja hosts critical national assets, including government ministries, hospitals, educational institutions, airports and major infrastructure, which require strategic facility management to ensure their functionality and durability.
He said the inauguration of the Abuja branch would expand the association’s national presence and provide a platform for professional training and certification, industry collaboration, student mentorship and networking among built-environment professionals in the Federal Capital Territory and the northern region.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of IFMA Nigeria’s Abuja Branch, Dr Oluwaseun Yinka Alabi, said the new leadership was committed to building a strong professional institution through membership mobilisation, stakeholder engagement, professional development and strategic partnerships.
Alabi, who will work with the branch’s Coordinating Secretary, Nnaemeka Samson Ebechidi, and Coordinating Treasurer, Towobola Adefeegbe, said efforts would begin immediately to establish the necessary operational structures and create an inclusive platform for professionals in the FCT.
He said the branch would pursue constructive engagement with stakeholders to reposition facility management as a strategic contributor to organisational growth, operational efficiency and sustainable development.
At the event, IFMA Nigeria recognised members who had contributed to the development of facility management practice in Abuja.
Dr Samson Opaluwah received the association’s lifetime membership award, while Ahmed Abubakar, Muhammed Usman and the late Collins Osayamwen, an IFMA Fellow, were also recognised.
Students of the built environment from the University of Abuja participated in the programme as part of efforts to encourage young professionals to embrace facility management.
The Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba (Dr.) Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, Chairman of IFMA Nigeria’s Board of Trustees, was represented by the Olu of Olowo Town and former President of IFMA Nigeria, Oba (Engr.) Ebenezer O. Soetan, alongside ESV Abel Olawaye.
Participants also visited the African Medical Centre of Excellence and the AFREXIM African Trade Centre to examine the application of technology and innovative building systems in improving energy performance, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainability.
The visits showcased the use of smart sensors, Internet of Things solutions and indoor air-quality monitoring to improve building performance and create healthier environments for occupants.
The inauguration and advocacy discussions reinforced the growing recognition that effective facility management must become an integral part of Nigeria’s building industry, particularly as government and private investors seek to protect infrastructure investments, reduce building deterioration and ensure that facilities remain functional and sustainable long after construction.
