Linus Ogbu
Nasarawa State Government says plans are underway to develop assets register for effective record keeping and maintenance of public infrastructure in the state.
Mr Edward Daudu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of works and Transports, said this in an interview with newsmen on Monday in Lafia.
According to him, the ministry deals with matters as it relates to roads transportations and public infrastructure; inspections and maintenances.
Daudu disclosed that plan is on course by the ministry to develop assets register for both road infrastructure and public buildings in the state to ensure timely maintenance.
He explained that assets register for public infrastructures would capture and reveal information on integrity of public facilities such as type of buildings, when they are built and when it would due for renovation.
He said assets register would enable the ministry to have a systematic ways of having seamless records of facilities, integrity and maintenance of the public infrastructures in Nasarawa state.
“There are regulations on how frequent public buildings should undergo integrity tests and renovation. The absence of assets register does not allowed us to anticipate when repair required until the agencies that manage such facilities make a formal request to us.
“The development of assets register for public infrastructures is on course, assets register is a handy tool that will help us anticipate when to inspect, renovate, you don’t need to wait until you receive complaints.
“Assets registers are not in place yet, they are in the course of developing, so, we are still relying on periodic inspection and request from management of such facilities to carry out maintenance in the event of breaking down,” he said.
Daudu hinted that plan is also underway by the ministry to develop road camps where some staff inspecting road infrastructure, can live in to give reports at a particular frequency on new occurrences as road infrastructure expands in the state.
Mr Kefas Tigga, a concerned citizen expressed disappointment over dilapidated nature of public infrastructure in Nasarawa state particularly Ibrahim Abacha Youths Centre.
He said the dilapidated state of the Centre was a clear reflection of how youths were being treated in the presence government of Governor Abdullahi Sule.
“Neglecting a place like the Ibrahim Abacha Youths Centre is something of great concern not just for present youths of Nasarawa state but for posterity because we don’t have any other recreational centre where youths can socialise,” he said.
Reacting to the dilapidated nature of the Centre, the Permanent Secretary, Barr. Isaac Danladi, who spoke through the director of facility management of the Ministry, Yusuf Ahmed said the step to restructure the facility by the government was in the process.
Danladi said the present administration of Gov Abdullahi Sule has begun remodeling of Akwanga and Nasarawa youths centres as well as other public facilities under the supervision of the ministry to give them facelift.
“Government activities is step by step, they can’t do everything at a time, by the time they finished that of Akwanga attention will be shifted to Ibrahim Abacha Youths Centre in Lafia even though the step to restructure it is in the process,” he said.
This is very commendable as it is the modern method of maintenance using the model of Asset Management. Most Countries especially in Europe and USA are adopting Asset Management tools in keeping Public infrastructure serviceable. Thus involves keeping records in form of log books that guides Engineers on maintenance schedules.