There have been several articles in the national newspapers on the lack of maintenance of public facilities. Write a letter to the editor of one of the news...

Answer Details

                                                                                                        45, Adesola Street,

                                                                                                        Iyana-Ipaja, 

                                                                                                        Lagos State.

                                                                                                        6th March, 2026.

The Editor,

The National Daily,

Ikoyi, Lagos State.

Dear Sir/Madam,

RE: THE DEPLORABLE STATE OF PUBLIC FACILITIES AND THE NEED FOR A MAINTENANCE CULTURE

I am writing to express my strong support for the recent series of articles highlighted in your newspaper regarding the lack of maintenance of public facilities in our country. As a concerned citizen and student, it is heart-wrenching to witness the systematic decay of infrastructure that was built with taxpayers' money.

It has become a recurring trend where multi-billion naira projects, ranging from healthcare centres to public libraries and sports complexes, are commissioned with great fanfare, only to be abandoned to the elements a few years later. This "build and neglect" syndrome is not just a waste of financial resources; it is a significant setback to our national development. In many instances, the lack of basic maintenance, such as fixing a leaking roof or servicing a generator, eventually leads to the total collapse of the entire structure, requiring ten times the original cost for reconstruction.

The root of this problem lies in our collective attitude. We often treat public property as "government property" that belongs to no one, rather than a shared asset that belongs to everyone. Furthermore, the absence of dedicated maintenance units in many of our public institutions ensures that minor faults grow into irreparable damage.

To curb this trend, I suggest that the government must incorporate a mandatory maintenance plan into every public contract. There should be a budget specifically ring-fenced for the upkeep of these facilities. Additionally, public enlightenment campaigns are needed to foster a sense of ownership among citizens and encourage them to report and protect public assets.

Public facilities are the physical backbone of our society. If we continue to let them rot, we are essentially mortgaging the future of the next generation. It is time we moved beyond the excitement of commissioning new projects and embraced the discipline of maintaining what we already have.

Yours faithfully,

(Signature)

Joy Gabriel.