Though largely impacted by the slowdown in the real estate space from which it feeds, the facilities management (FM) industry in Nigeria is recording improvements in its growth and development processes and initiatives in a country where it is relatively new.
Apart from the spirited efforts at creating awareness about the industry which the operators are making, the industry is increasingly featuring in property transactions, especially as luxury apartment occupiers currently place 15 percent -20 percent premium on service.
The out-gone year (2018) will go down as a significant one for the industry with the many social impact initiatives that were recorded in the course of the year. Besides the launching of the National FM body known as Association of FM Practitioners Nigeria (AFMPN), the final approval of the FM bill 2018 and the draft National Policy on Maintenance of Public Assets by the Federal Ministry Power, Works and Housing, many of the frontline FM companies had their hands on the plough.
“As a company, we have grown well, improved, created new solutions, innovative ideas and support for our clients and suppliers; we have put our employees at the highest level of focus. We have created and sustained many industry initiatives”, MKO Balogun, CEO, Global Property & Facilities International (Global PFI), confirmed to BusinessDay in an interview.
Established about 18years ago as the first fully defined and classified FM company in Nigeria, Global PFI has, over the years, evolved through mergers, acquisitions and share restructuring. From its humble beginning as Facilities Management Company of Nigeria (FMC), it has undergone name changes to WSP FMC after its partnership with WSP; merger with Domme FM Limited in 2012 and finally, in 2014, it became Global Property and Facilities International Limited.
Gradually but steadily, the company is becoming Pan African with operations in major African cities of Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’ Ivoire, Cameroon and Kenya. It is an ISO 2008:2015 certified company and, according to the CEO, “we remain committed to providing world class real estate service to our clients all over Africa”.
“Over the years, the company has done a few things that impact directly on people and the economy. We have created a maintenance economy; we have trained people and will continue to train more people for skills that are employable; our target is to graduate 100 people from our ProFM Credential Africa Center”, Balogun disclosed, assuring that in the new year, they would be upbeat in training and adding value such that clients wouldn’t have need to source skilled labour from abroad.
At industry level, he noted that the industry was fast evolving, pointing out that it is rapidly expanding globally, regionally and locally with growing awareness, acceptance just as the global market is changing with global players strengthening their presence in Africa with mergers and partnerships.
Clients’ expectation has increased and demand for FM value has also increased away from service. This explained the launch of four FM ISO standard including, ISO 41011:2017, 41012:2017, 41013:2017 and 41001:2018; to ensure uniformity in the way FM is seen, appreciated, valued and implemented by both clients and providers.
With the new FM definition as ‘an organization function which integrates people, place and process within the built environment with the purpose of improving the quality of life of people and productivity of the core business’, the industry seems well prepared to respond to the new demand.
Balogun was, however, worried with the slowdown in the real estate sector which he blamed on the players in that sector who, he noted, have failed to understand the market dynamics.
“The real estate sector has continued to slow down largely due to oversupply in commercial and retail sectors, as well as inappropriate supply in the residential sector”, he said, pointing out that investors have not really looked at the area where is huge and real demand in the market.
CHUKA UROKO
