NIGERIAN BUILDING AND ROAD RESEARCH INSTITUTE

(Federal Ministry of Science and Technology)

SERVICOM CHARTER

Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute No. 3 Gabes Street Wuse Zone 2 Abuja Tel. 09 5237466-7

Website: www.nbrri.gov.ng

SERVICOM CHARTER FOR NIGERIAN BUILDING AND ROAD RESEARCH INSTITUTE

1.

VISION AND MISSION STATEMENTS VISION

To evolve and use a comprehensive and integrated approach in appropriate technology development and transfer, sustainable capacity building and investment promotion so as to foster the application of environmentfriendly and energy-efficient innovative construction materials, manufacturing technologies, and cost-effective building and road construction practices which will enhance job-creation, wealth generation and poverty reduction as well as nurture the emergence of vibrant, knowledge-based and highly competitive indigenous construction standards. MISSION Integrated R&D, capacity building, and robust extension services in which technological innovations and
3

companies

capable

of

meeting

global

knowledge-based practices in the fields of building, road, and engineering materials will be used to provide adequate and affordable housing and road infrastructure as well as increased economic empowerment 2. MANDATE/BUSINESS TRANSACTION The areas of business transactions of NBRRI involve conducting research and development activities into the varied aspect of the construction industry. the following: (i) local building and construction materials to determine the most effective and economic methods of their utilization; (ii) architectural design of buildings to suit Nigerian climatic conditions with respect to lighting, ventilation, thermal comfort and humidity; (iii) the design and performance of functional units in buildings including electrical installations, plumbing, painting, drainage, ventilation and air-conditioning system;
4

In

particular, the R&D focus will be on, amongst others,

(iv) local construction, foundation and earthworks for buildings and bridges, especially on problem soils; (v) local construction and building operations and methods, to increase their effectiveness; (vi) the design and construction of roads best suited to the Nigerian environment; (vii) the economic and social aspects of the building and construction industry; road safety including the occurrence of accidents and methods of reducing the number of accidents;
(viii)

(ix) the economic and social aspects of road and transportation schemes, accidents and safety measures; (x) structural designs of buildings and bridges and the development of design criteria, specifications and codes of practice; (xi) all classes of engineering materials metals, ceramics, polymers, etc., including the systems for their conversion and processing, materials production/synthesis, materials development, materials availability, processing and
5

applications, materials failure analysis and prevention, corrosion protection and foundry technology. In addition, the Institute provides:
(a)

consulting services relating to building, road and engineering materials to individuals, public and private organizations;

(b) specialist support services to medium and small scale enterprises in the areas of training, testing and evaluation of products, materials characterization, materials selection (specification), feasibility study, materials information services, enhancement of product quality and market potential.
3.

STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING THE VISION AND MISSION OBJECTIVES

To achieve the objectives embodied in the Vision and Mission Statements of the Institute, the following strategies will be employed: (i). Initiate and recommend as the needs arise policy changes to provide enabling environment for optimal performance of the industry: Stimulate and lobby Federal Government of Nigeria to:

(a)

commit certain percentage of Custom and Excise duties on all imported building materials to support Research and Promotion Activities grant Fiscal Incentives such as excise/custom duty exemption, tax holiday etc., to manufacturers of building materials for the production of local building materials

(b)

(c) increase import duties on importation of building materials that can be sourced locally (ii). Pursue rigorous Extension Services
(a)

Pursue sustained capacity building and skills development through (i) training of unskilled artisans/ craftsmen; (ii) backing up the production of simple building components using local resources; and (iii) collaborate national, state, and local institutions to conduct periodic training and orientation courses for professionals such as Engineers, Architects, Town Planners, Contractors and Construction Managers to create confidence in the use of new materials and local technologies Provide technical entrepreneurs on application support and advice to technology selection and

(b)

(c)

Promote nationwide establishment of small scale and village level construction materials Production Units in rural areas Promote economy in construction cost through introduction of improved tools, techniques and practices Work with Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) in formulating standards for local Building Materials. Persuade Federal Government of Nigeria to, as a matter of policy, use and appeal to State/Local Governments to adopt NBRRI technologies for projects in rural areas. Internal Reforms
(a)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(iii)

to restructure the Institute with a view to making it efficient and each Department more focused to infuse the different Departments especially the Technical Departments with experienced professionals capable of moving NBRRI forward to develop knowledge-based organization in which processes and procedures conform to internationally accepted R&D best practices
8

(b)

(c)

(d)

to upgrade the Institutes R&D infrastructure so as to meet internationally accepted standards to initiate and actively promote strong linkages with relevant arms of Government, cognate professional bodies, tertiary institutions, etc. to pursue with vigour an internal policy of gradually reducing dependence on Government budgetary allocations for the operations of the Institute. to pursue transparency and openness in all NBRRI activities.
(g)

(e)

(f)

(h)

to engage in energetic revenue generation drive (including embarking on aggressive promotion campaign to sell the Institutes marketable products) to vigorously pursue a policy of zero corruption, indolence and other unethical and/or unproductive practices/behaviours to enthrone and promote a transparent and objective reward system in which

(i)

(j)

hardworking staff will be identified and adequately rewarded. 4. CLIENTS/CUSTOMERS NBRRI renders services on all technical subjects concerning following Professionals such as Builders, Architects Estate Surveyors, Land Surveyors, Highway or Traffic Engineers, and Civil Engineers.
(a)

the

construction

industry

to

all

stakeholders in the industry.

These include the

Professional bodies involved in the construction industry such the as Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB), Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Federation of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors in Nigeria (FOBACEN), etc.
(b)

10

Government establishments and institutions with activities related to the construction industry. These include the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Federal Ministry of Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Industry, Federal Ministry of Power and Steel etc. Others are sister Research Institutes in Nigeria, educational institutions etc. Also all tiers of government i.e. Federal, State and Local Government and other government agencies are clients.
(c)

Privately owned Small, Medium and Large Scale Construction Companies and Contractors in Nigeria with business in the construction industry.
(d)

Private-sector led bodies such as the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, REDAN), the Building Materials Producers Association of Nigerian ( BUMPAN), Primary Mortgage Banking Institutions (PMI)
(e)

(f) Small and Medium Scale enterprises with interest in the construction industry

11

(g) Individuals with interest in the construction industry e.g. those interested in owning affordable houses (h) Sister research organizations outside Nigeria and multi-national organizations with activities in the construction industry. (i) Private sector-led building materials producers such as producers of roofing sheets, paints, etc. (j) Financial Institutions e.g. Mortgage Institutions (k) Community Association 5. Based Farmers Associations Rural Development

SERVICES RENDERED

Services offered include but are not limited to the following: (i) Technological innovations and data generated by NBRRI for building and road construction sectors of the economy. These are in the form of either:

12

(a) developing hardware technologies such as prototype machines and tools for enhanced delivery and performance in the housing and road sectors. Examples include the development and fabrication of various machines and tools such as: Engine Laterite grinding Machine Mixer Stone-crete Machine Plastering Tools Trowel Internal angle iron External angle iron
13

Manual Brickmaking Machine Manual Interlocking Blockmaking Machine Electric Interlocking Blockmaking Machine Interlocking Blockmaking Using Diesel

Concrete Vibrator Roofing tile vibrator Hydraulic Paving Stone Machine Manual Paving Stone Machine (b) Generating data to guide in the design and use of various components and activities in the housing and road sector. Examples include the following: Climatological and Solar data for Nigeria for the development of relevant tables, Isograms, Comfort Charts, Climatological Map of Nigeria that are needed for thermal comfort designs of buildings; Sub-grade Soils Maps of different States in Nigeria which are available both in computerized (digital) format and hard copies. This is a useful tool to guide in the preliminary design of road pavements in different parts of Nigeria.

14

Data

on

anthropometric

characteristics,

living patterns and socio-cultural settings to guide in the development of alternative design detailing for functional housing in Nigeria (ii) Specialist support services to small and medium scale enterprises in the areas of training, testing and evaluation of products, materials characterization, materials selection (specification), feasibility study, materials information services, enhancement of product quality and market potential (iii) Consultancy services relating to Building, Road and Engineering Materials to individuals, public and private organizations. Some of these include: Building and Construction; using alternative and conventional building materials Soil Laboratory Testing for Contractors, consultants and the construction industry in general Foundation Engineering Services

15

Site structures

Investigation

services

for

engineering

Land Use Planning including Terrain Evaluation and Analysis, GIS application, Land resource identification and evaluation etc. Water borehole development Measurement buildings Road Design, Construction and Maintenance of different types of roads Building services design Contract Research and Development These services are available at NBRRI which has its National Laboratory and Production Complex at Ota, Ogun State, office in Abuja, and three zonal offices at Nnewi (for Eastern Nigeria), Lagos (for Western Nigeria) and Kano (for Northern Nigeria). At the moment, NBRRI plans to open other Zonal offices so that R&D activities and of Acoustic Performance of

16

services of NBRRI can become available in all the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. 6. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM

NBRRI has a feedback mechanism to monitor the performance of various construction components and/or activities with a view to identifying areas that require R&D intervention for improvement.

EXPECTATION FROM CUSTOMERS These include the following: Prompt attention to enquiries

(a)

(b) Provision of high quality services/products (c) Affordable and competitive prices (d) After sales service contract (e) Guaranteed product safety (f) Product and service warranty

17

(g) regular feedback on products and services rendered by NBRRI to guide in performance development

8.

COMPENSATION IN THE EVENT FAILURE OF SERVICE DELIVERY

OF

In the event of failure of service delivery, NBRRI undertakes to compensate the customer in accordance with the terms and conditions stipulated in the relevant contractual agreements.

9. CONTACT Services, Products and relevant information can be obtained from the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer at the following addresses: a. NBRRI No. 3 Gabes Street PMB 5065 Wuse Zone 2 Abuja b. NBRRI National Lab. & Prod. Center Km 10 Idiroko Road P. M. B 1055, Ogun State Ota
18

c. NBRRI Western Zonal Office 15 Awolowo Road SW Ikoyi P. M .B. 12568 Lagos e.

d. NBRRI Eastern Zonal Office Onitsha Nnewi Road Nnewi Anambra State

NBRRI Northern Zonal Office Katsina Road, Kano

Tel. 09-5237466-7, 09-5238720 e-mail: dg @ nbrri.org.ng Website: www.nbrri.gov.ng

19

20