Smart buildings gathering momentum in Nigeria, says ITB boss

RAMZI CHIDIAC, MANAGING DIREC TOR AT ITB Nigeria Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading construction companies, say the demand for smart buildings in Nigeria is gathering the needed momentum compared to the last five years when few persons or nobody knew anything about the Internet of Things (IoT).

Chidiac who disclosed this in a chat with business a.m., said smart buildings, powered by the Internet of things are currently trending in developing nation like Nigeria due to the continuous technological advancement around the globe.

“Recently, we have designed about 4-5 smart buildings in Nigeria,” said Chidiac.

He said as a leading company in Nigeria, ATB provides the worldclass cutting-edge technology adopted in designing smart buildings for Nigerians. “We are always setting the pace for other construction companies to follow when it comes to technology because that is the backbone for us.”

According to Chidiac, ATB had brought in a special technology used in one of its older projects which after a decade some other construction companies started deploying that same technology. “When it comes to technology, ATB will always take the lead, I see some companies adopt technologies which we used 10 years ago.”

Smart building concept is an implementation of technology de- veloped in the construction industry throughout just like the company has been doing in recent times.

“We currently have unrivalled technology in the Nigerian construction industry and the projects that we have carried out are a testament to that. We have certainly raised the bar in the way buildings are designed and constructed in Nigeria.”

He said a smart building is any structure that uses automated processes to automatically control the building’s operations including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, security and other systems.

He said as an innovative construction company handling all facets of constructions, ITB Nigeria Limited is redefining and raising the standards of buildings and construction in Nigeria, adding that the core value is to grow through creativity, invention and innovation.

‘Build it Right’ is our way of reaffirming our position. In order to continue to improve on our services and increase clients’ satisfaction, we have gone ahead to invest in multiple resources and affiliates.”

He said the company hopes to increase home-grown interest in civil engineering, promoting African expertise at home and abroad and eventually taking African engineers into the global export market.

“With up to 3000 employees, ITB has become the growing face of African development.

We want to continue raising the bars on African based training and development of civil engineering,” he said.

We are adequately equipped to handle Turnkey projects (Design and Build), we built the first LEED Certified building in Nigeria and we are advocates of smart buildings,” chidiac added.

He said ITB Nigeria Ltd recently adopted a new slogan “Build it Right” to reflect the company’s adoption of international best practices- it’s use of the right technology; the right processes, the right systems and the right people.

“The slogan reaffirms the company’s unrivalled quality, technology and standards in its various services and operations,” he said.

Smart building concept is an implementation of technology developed in the construction industry