‘We Need To Integrate Standards Into Our Buildings’

Schneider Electric West Africa’s country president for Nigeria, Ajibola Akindele, has emphasised the importance of integrating standards and intelligent infrastructure at the earliest stages of building design and at the heart of building strategy.

He disclosed this recently in Abuja, even as the research and visualisation mapping tool Africapolis said cities like Lagos, Accra and Abidjan in West Africa have been identified as undergoing one of the fastest urban transitions in the world.

The study said the three cities are driven by population growth, rural-to-urban migration and economic shifts.

According to Akindele, the building industry must mobilise quickly to meet the above. This means everything from high-rise apartments to hospitals, hotels and office complexes must be built or upgraded to keep pace with the region’s rapid urbanisation.

“We also have to build smart. For one, buildings cannot afford to compromise on quality. While this might realise short-term savings, the long-term risks are enormous, like compromised safety, inefficiency and system failures.

At Schneider Electric, we cannot emphasise the importance of integrating standards and intelligent infrastructure at the earliest design stages. And at the heart of this strategy is the Building Management System (BMS). In West Africa, it is not uncommon to encounter buildings that appear modern externally but conceal outdated or even unsafe systems within. Many clients unknowingly purchase or install equipment that lacks proper certification or is not suited to the building’s operational needs, compromising everything from energy efficiency to fire safety.

“BMS is a powerful solution to sustain urban growth. For example, by optimising HVAC, lighting and power systems, a BMS platform can reduce energy consumption by up to 30–40%. This is particularly valuable in West African cities where energy supply can be inconsistent and operational costs high,” he said.