The President of the Association of Facility Management Practitioners of Nigeria (AFMPN), Olumide Aina, has called for stronger investment in professional facility management, warning that poor maintenance culture continues to weaken the quality and sustainability of Nigeria’s built environment.
Aina made the call in a statement issued to commemorate World FM Day 2026, celebrated globally under the theme “Cultivating Belonging Through Built Environments.”
Poor Maintenance Culture Threatens Infrastructure
According to him, buildings and public infrastructure should no longer be viewed as projects that end once construction is completed.
He noted that facilities such as schools, hospitals, offices, markets, and residential estates play major roles in the daily lives of citizens and require proper maintenance to ensure safety and productivity.
“For too long in Nigeria, we have treated facility management as an afterthought. Buildings are built, handed over, and left to decay. Power fails, water leaks, elevators stop, and safety is compromised,” Aina said.
He stressed that neglecting maintenance often results in broader economic and social consequences beyond repair costs.
Declining Infrastructure Impacts Productivity
Aina explained that deteriorating facilities reduce efficiency, weaken public trust, and create barriers to social and economic progress.
According to him, infrastructure failures contribute to lost opportunities and declining confidence in institutions.
He described facility management professionals as vital contributors to national development because they help maintain safe, accessible, and sustainable environments.
“We are the professionals who ensure buildings remain safe, functional, sustainable, and inclusive,” he stated.
AFMPN Calls for More Training and Partnerships
The AFMPN president praised practitioners across several states including Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Benue, Port Harcourt, and Kano for their contributions toward improving standards and service delivery.
However, he urged stakeholders to strengthen the profession through increased investment in training, certification, and collaboration.
He said stronger partnerships involving government agencies, academic institutions, and industry players would help raise professional standards.
“We need more training, more certification, and stronger partnerships between government, academia, and industry,” he added.
Youth Encouraged to Explore Facility Management Careers
Aina also encouraged young Nigerians to consider facility management as a strategic and respected profession capable of driving economic growth and improving quality of life.
He further urged both public and private institutions to engage qualified facility managers from project planning stages rather than after construction.
“The cost of neglect is always higher than the cost of maintenance,” he warned.
He reaffirmed AFMPN’s commitment to strengthening professional capacity and promoting safer, better-managed environments nationwide.
