Covid-19: Public Utilities And Our Maintenance Culture -By Arc. Gbenga Onabanjo

Behind every dark cloud, there is always a silver lining. The advent of the Coronavirus has brought out certain traits in us which hitherto, appeared to be missing. I have lived long enough in Lagos, during the boom years of cement armada that witnessed the surge in public infrastructure.

The Murtala Mohammed International Airport, National Arts Theatre, National Stadium, Eko Bridge and the network of ring roads. Whilst these impressive projects were springing up, a maintenance culture was not put in place to maintain all these facilities.

This trend has continued over the years and I wondered at what point that the desired change would come. In most civilised cities, the maintenance culture has been taken to lofty heights.

I was amazed seeing in some cities in Canada, protecting the trees planted along their highways, against the frost of the winter, by cladding them with some frost resistant materials. Also noticed in Dubai, where their trees are meticulously watered through a complex irrigation system. Their public utilities are in very decent conditions because they are regularly maintained. No wonder, their structures appear sparkling and new even when they are over 40 years old.

Necessity is the mother of invention, so people say. It was a pleasant surprise, seeing our bus shelters, which were nicely constructed and with the latest construction specifications, that could make them comparable with any bus shelter in the civilized world, but which are beginning to run down, due to lack of maintenance, suddenly springing up back to life! How, you may wish to ask?

The fear of the Coronavirus from further spreading caused the state government to disinfect and spring clean every bus shelter in the city of Lagos. This is highly commendable!

If this could happen whilst attempting to prevent the spread of the virus in Lagos, then we could actually make it a way of life. Our level of maintenance and sanitation could actually be improved.

Kudos must be given to Mr Babajide Sanwoolu, for his proactive style in providing good leadership during this crisis. This effort should be sustained, even after we would have conquered the scourge.

Particular attention must be paid to all our Pedestrian Bridges, Street Median Railings, Street Light Poles, Bus Shelters, Public Schools, General Hospitals, Local Government Secretariats, Public Markets, Police

Stations, Stadiums and all Public Parks. In some cases, their maintenance could be outsourced.

If at the end of this pandemic, we are able to improve our general level of sanitation and also revisit our maintenance culture and replacement of damaged public utilities, then the experience garnered from this scourge would have been a blessing in disguise.

Arc. Gbenga Onabanjo is an Environmentalist and founder of GO FORTE FOUNDATION, an environment based NGO. He writes from Lagos.