The Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said government is committed in sensitizing Nigerians on the importance of cultivating a good maintenance culture as it is critical to the development of the nation.
Lai Mohammed made this known in Abuja on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 during a public lecture, organized by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) with the theme “Maintenance Culture: A Panacea for Sustainable Infrastructural Development in Nigeria”.
Represented by the Deputy Director, Festivals and Carnivals, Mrs. Memunat Idu-Lar, the Minister who attributed the bane of development in Nigeria to poor maintenance culture said the present administration of His Excellency, Mohammadu Buhari is committed to investing in the nation’s infrastructural development as well as ameliorate the poor maintenance culture in the country.
While commending the Governing Board, Management and Staff of NICO for the public lecture initiative, Lai Mohammed said the new maintenance policy and framework recently approved by the Federal Executive Council is aimed at institutionalizing an effective maintenance culture in the country, stressing that it will be counter-productive to invest billions of naira in new projects without provision for their maintenance.
Similarly speaking, the NICO Governing Board Chairman, Hon. Yusuf Shittu Galambi who also lamented the poor maintenance culture in Nigeria said most new infrastructure in the country do not have provision for maintenance. In his words “It is disheartening that we vote billions of naira for new roads, building bridges, traffic lights, schools, hospitals, refineries, power stations and there is no provision for their maintenance. A few years later we find these critical infrastructures in sorry states.”
He therefore called on government at all levels to ensure a well articulated maintenance policy is in place to make adequate provision for maintenance of our infrastructure.
Dignitaries present at the event were the Minister of Power, Works & Housing, His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN who was represented by Arch. A. A. Ocheje; the Etsu of Kwali, HRH Alhaji Dr. Shaban Audu Nuzazo III; Acting Executive Secretary, NICO, Mr. Louis Eriomala; the Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otumba Segun Runsewe who was represented by the Director, Performing Arts, Mr. Sam Agbi; the Acting Director General, Centre for Black African Arts and Civilization (CBACC); Mrs. Ndidi Aimienwauu; Dr. Ladan Usman who represented the Acting Executive Chairman, Economics Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Mr. Emmanuel Otu who represented the Permanent Secretary (Service Welfare), Office of the Head of Service of the Federation; Mrs. Itodo Elizabeth, member, NICO Governing Board; Mr. Aregbe Sola who represented the Director, Directorate of Road Traffic Services; Mr. D.O. Ajatoye who represented the Chief of Naval Staff; and Mr. Jonathan Yogbo who represented the Commandant General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps amongst others.
Caleb Nor
Media Asst.-Ag. ES
NICO HQ
Abuja-FCT