₦airaland Forum

ajagx1:
Thanks my brother,You know Nigerian is one Way traffic,Camry Camry but some people still know the value of Acura.

Ajagx,

You well know and have acknowledged, the general mindset. This buyers mindset is tough to change, why (as gift to my old man) my siblings preferred a 2004 Corolla on Nairaland over a 2001/2 Acura TL on 1000car4sale at same price, almost five months ago.

However as a recent Acura convert, I think you have not done yourself much favor in marketing this machine.
It is feature-full! and so well equipped; obvious even from available pictures. I believe you were in a hurry to post and have not provided more brand specific details on the functionality that would make the product stand out. I see a few things that should have been advertised:
- auto settings for driver's seat (on driver's door)
- rear heating controls
- driver's side mirror heater control
- additional non-standard controls for front passenger's seat
etc.

The buyer is looking for value for money, coupled with reliability/maintainability. Acura is top end (luxury) Honda and shares most replaceable parts (if I'm not mistaken).

You could do well to edit your original post. . .

showbobo:
@EI

Your kids are lucky.I was born and bred in Lagos and never visited other states till now .I wish i had such opportunity when i was a kid.Hope you guys had fun anyway, Do you reside in Lagos

showbobo,

No O! Lagos is not where I want to grow a family; not with the traffic wahala 

We thank God for present day kids who have much more opportunities than we had (as kids).
Sure we had fun and trust God for life, health and His provisions to expand the scope of trip (an eye on the West African coast), in a couple of years time if Christ tarries. . .

Dedax:
Anybody experienced with VW products?

Our VW expert (nkc) is AWOL. . .

inspired_m:
EI,

I was almost tempted last week to Post a Thread asking on the Whereabouts of You and nkc, its bn a while, Sure you had fun during your trip. . . I appreciate being of service to you, Welcome Back.

As for nkc, his whereabouts still remains

Inspired,

Sure we had fun, thanks.

nkc's whereabouts would have been a concern if I hadn't known six weeks ago that he changed jobs and was holed somewhere (outside Abuja; and network access) on staff induction exercises. That disrupted our earlier plan to "catch-up" in Abuja - the guy also smoothly avoided the cost of hosting my family   

His absence is taking much off the humor content of this Forum.
If I fail to reach him via phone/email this week, I'll do what I've been contemplating for weeks - place a wanted ad on him   

sultaan:
You had more stops than I had in 7 years.

Sultaan,

That makes our Naija distinct (albeit negatively)!

In more civilised societies, checkpoints are for quite serious businesses while a cop must have good reasons if he has to pull someone over (his car AV system recording live transactions). But where the purpose is for collection of tolls, what else do you expect??

sultaan:
Asking for a police permit on a factory tint is ridiculous! they need to get up to date with automotive standards, can't keep letting their ignorance hold the people back.

"can't keep letting their ignorance hold the people back"

Ol' boy, e be like say e don tay well well, way u leave Naija.

On the highways (even within cities in very public places), you do not really need to argue with armed guys with warped mentalities/attitudes. Just get as much documentation as provided by Govt/police agencies and minimise the psychological trauma dealing with those guys. My wife (as a <more> learned fellow) and I sometimes banter words and give them fights, but you just ask yourself why demean yourself going into all that!

Anyhow my tinted glass permit (yes there is officially one!) was procured (thanks Inspired!) before my car left Lagos. Even with that, a police man in Lagos went as far as questioning the authenticity, since in his words, the guy that signed for AIG (or something), the month before, was no more occupying that position!
I held myself back from snatching my papers from him and speeding away. . .

Fotodaddy,

Pele O! All happening (i.e. the flat tyres) so fast!!

Lucky for me then that I didn't go for the sealant through same source (remember I called you after the guy used you as reference). Maybe I go for get to dey deal with tyre problems during the >5,000km road trip of past month. . .

Gamine:
Infact you try no be small o

Thank you my sista. How we go do am. . .? 

adechuks:
I did a small trip in April myself. but not near as far-reaching as yours.
Drove from PH to Abuja then a visit to Ajaokuta, then onwards to Osogbo through the terrible Okene-Ondo state rd. Osogbo to Warri through Owo/Benin and back to PH.

But a question here, I had noticed on my own trip that police road-blocks were almost non-existent along the Enugu-Anyangba-Lokoja route all the way to Abuja, and generally in the north. Where did you see most police, and what was the general treatment received in their hands.

Bros,

My interface with Okene was on the Benin-Auchi-Okene-Lokoja route to Abuja on my way up to the North. Back South was from Kaduna-Mokwa-Jebba route. I didn't touch Ondo town at all; only interface with that area was Lagos-Ibadan-Akure(through Ife road)-Owo-Benin, as I dodged the Sagamu-Ore imbroglio   

The South-East was the only region we didn't cover for almost obvious reasons   
So I won't be quite a good judge for any assessment around that axis - last time I drove deep into the Region from Asaba end of Niger bridge, was in Nov 1992 through Enugu to Nturu (for a friend's wedding).

Police toll points? Well I'd say we encountered more stops/searches in the single Benin-Sapele-Warri-Ughelli-PHC-Aba-Ikot Ekpene-Itu-Calabar journey, than the journey up till that point (i.e. all the ride up/through North, North to Lagos and Lagos to Benin)! 90% & 100% of the stops & searches resp, were on the earlier part in red letters   
That day it was like, "didn't we remember to intercede against police wahala today?".

Within PHC cost us 1.5hrs between Choba and Obigbo . . . just getting through PHC! By then the toll of the police stops really got to us, with a heavy rain from mid afternoon that provided only 1.5hrs of daylight to contend with, getting to Calabar.

In the whole of the North, the attitude was definitely different and the Highway Patrol teams were more courteous and polite. Just 3 stops, two of which was "show us your tinted glass permit (only)".

In Lagos we had a few brushes in our 5d sojourn. No brush at all in Ibadan and Ilorin.

Because of the fear of customs, a worse experience with MDX being imported, one had to avoid Ore/Oluku area, where they are most visible. That was the stress area for the army guys that brought the MDX from Lagos, and also a stress area for many friends/colleagues (infact Fotodaddy had a brush a few weeks area that we discussed). Luckily I never encountered the NCS. . .

A good contact for Chevvies is Roland on 08056557664

J,

Curious to know how far Danderson's transaction has fared. . .

Lonely elephant at Jos wildlife park

The park at this time is almost comparable to Ibadan's zoo (UI's biological gardens) in terms o content and variety of wildlife creatures.

Unfortunately Ibadan's zoo is quite depleted now in content/variety due to much neglect - in 1978 first time I was there, it was quite rich; worse during my second experience in 2000, and gradually depreciating. . .

. . .and throwing grown-up Simba (attached) into the equation, will give you a glimpse of my pictures   

So Fotodaddy, I await the movie under description (lets see how well you join your kids to have fun). . .

fotodaddy:
Ol boy, you mean say you go all the way to jos just to dey look hyenas??!!

I for show them to you for our local garbage dump for lagos. And you for no spend all that fuel money!!!

Fotodaddy,

So after lazily waking up at 0730hrs (when ya mates don dey before 0500hrs to hail our boys), na me u come expend ya energy to yab, eh?!

Anyhow you are ok with the comment. Really a pity our digital camera developed a problem day 1 of trip, so the camcorder was used for still pictures without real conviction (till after the trip I wasn't even sure how to effect download for edition). And of the few, interspaced between almost 40Gb movie clips, many are not discreet and too personal so can't be published here.

Pics:
Meanwhile adding the pic below (Pumba) to the last (Ed! and co). . .

sultaan:
Losing 1-0 sucks, but it was a good match.

Sultaan,

E no easy. A tough loss to take as we didn't put up our best performance. But of course much odds were against us with absence of Obasi, and we were playing against great starts in their own right (while our best ply their trade at mid table clubs in England and Spain, those guys have half tehir team in Barca, Liverpool, Ath Mad, Real Mad, Bay Munich etc. . .and Riquelme!)

The boys did great and I personally believe they should be retained and moulded with the best papa Eagles team has to offer, against WC 2010. . . of course retaining Siasia as overall coach (my real-time comments are captured in the appropriate Thread under Sports).

APAM, KAITA, OGBUKE,ADELEYE should be promoted to super eagles.

KAITA and APAM are very good players  Amodu should forget those so called big boys

I really don't concur.

I would expect it the other way around, i.e. get the best of current papa Eagles to join these boys against WC2010!  

They have the experience (playing up to two finals at World stage), skills and tactical discipline.
Add:
- strikers like Martins, the Uche  brothers (definitely not Aiyegbeni  )
- midfield? Maybe only a repentant and humble Mikel
- a couple of defenders
- Enyeama (and what was the other keeper's name)
and we have a good team!

But then Amodu and his coaching team will have to also be retired, for Siasia to naturally manage. . .  

It is over, but at least we got a silver.

Sad that Siasia would be disappointed losing twice in a role at finals in World stage, to Argentina   His wits against Baptista, a World cup winner, didn't come out top. But he has made a mark and I hope that this side (with him as coach), are retained for SA 2010.

The commentator's comment a injury time that "the Super Eaglets are grounded" was quite apt.

The difference in having an Anichebe instead of an Obasi was quite clear. Things just didn't work out    Promise and Okoronkwo didn't really get off. After the first 40mins of promise, something left our team and the Argentines gegan to swagger around with confidence.

But we were really quite optimistic as patriots. What did we expect playing another appropriately disciplined side that matched us talent for talent, and with Riquelme plus players from Barca, Liverpool, Athetico Madrid, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich etc. . .

vicade:
why did vanzekin come out? he made life easy for dima ria. Adeleye, the naija defender was closing in on him  but vanzekin just rushed out. Another bout of youthful excuberance eccentricity from vanzekin. But nothing dey happen.

My thoughts too, but a natural reaction.

st-kris:
we'r still winning, 4 real

That is the spirit (hey! we almost got one back from that pullot).

Not new to our boys, as this should be a repeat of 1996 when they also scored first; though the circumstances are quite different. Men, the pressure is on. . .

jenju:
EI,

Lovely family you have up there! You are indeed a lucky man, I'm glad your trip was a great success and I am proud to say that the MDX I sold to you lived up to the task.

Best regards,
J

J,

Thanks a lot. And thanks for the commendable after sales "service" - the call after 2 weeks to check the performance (and extent of my travels).

Yes the MDX was awesome through all the road conditions we met; road handling, absorption of shocks through the millions of potholes, braking, acceleration, general comfort for driver/passengers,  commendable cargo space etc.

Not as comfortable though taking sharp bends as my lower gravity Honda Accord salon, but the overall drive in it was quite a very pleasant experience.

Man get to go back to watching the match (I hope we can overrun the Argentines). . .

Eagle1:
@poster
You mean u have 2 wives? Please explain the 2nd woman. Nice tho for you to have the courage. Did you got to PH? How do one cope with the militants? My friend just came back today with some stories.

promise72:
Na crime make someone have 2 wives? EI you don't owe me any explanation. carry go. Marry 10 sef. I support

Eagle/Promise,

lol!
One na my wife. The younger na our first pikin,   

Yes we spent 2 nights only in PHC. Militants no be new tin na! We be Nigerians, so we fit survive, as long as we keep low profile - even with the MDX

PS: Actually PH was one of my last work locations where my family spent half a decade. Quite nice that Gov Amaechi is doing in 1yr what Odili couldn't in 8yrs. . .

Home shot,

Heading for Wikki warm springs

Jos wildlife park

Family at Abuja Hilton

fotodaddy:
EI, this is exactly the kind of trip I am planning with my new bike!!!

Fotodaddy,

Na beg I dey. Make u no try am with motor cycle O! Road no good for two wheelers O!!   

Meanwhile more pics below (too bad I have too much more of movies than pictures on my camcorder). . .

Yankari games reserve

MRH - Miango.
An American run chalet-type rest home in Plateau State

Abuja Transcorp Hilton

Is it sane to undertake a venture with your whole family on a road trip around Nigeria, considering attendants risks (armed robberry, bad roads, police/other law enforcement agencies, half sane drivers etc.)?

That was what I did from 23rd July to 18th August. And by the grace of the Lord, we came back home after transversing 5 of 6 regions, in one piece.

For years I've planned, dreamt but procrastinated a land travel around interesting cities within Nigeria. The MDX through Jenju was specifically for the purpose, as my Accord cannot provide appropriate safety features for a family of six (seat belts for five), apart from luggage hauling capacity and comfort (including the on-board home entertainment system).

While most Nigerian roads (particularly the Southern areas) are not in good condition, the greatest challenges were on the Kaduna-Mokwa-Jebba-Ilorin and Aba-Ikot Ekpene-Calabar axes. Particularly the former. Spot on and top quality of course were the Abuja-Keffi, Jos-Bauchi, Kano-Kaduna . . . and (from the South!) the Benin-Warri highways.

Nigeria is a lovely place actually and while the Govt is generally not paying much attention to developing so many areas with high potentials as tourist centres, averagely we may not be doing service to exploiting these same areas during our leisure periods. Na so so oyibo we dey see for some choice remote locations    Not strange sha, as we also dey explore their own country pass them too sometimes - I found it quite strange during a work experience in Europe, that many Dutch colleagues had never been to the Omniversum (situated right in Den Haag!); place wey I go a couple of times   

It was generally a good experience to visit family members and friends at far flung ends of the country, while also taking in the beauty (where existent) of our own dear native land.
Expensive? Yes!
Wearying? Yes!
But it was quite educational for the kids.
It was great for my wife and I (back to my University after 19yrs of last visit; back to Kano where my wife and I did National service, etc.). The pent up nostalgia for some of those places at least has ebbed off now. . .

I'll share below (and later) a few pictures of the adventure.

And I will encourage us to share similar road trip experiences. . .

jenju:
EI's car has been delivered to him in Warri. I expect to see some pics soon.

Cheers,
J 

J,
Sorry for my late reply.

All,
My apologies for late pic display of the MDX in Naija.

Many excuses really, but my apologies nontheless. A few days after collecting the ride, I started my vacation and travelled same day, on a marathon family drive around Nigeria for 4 weeks!. In the MDX of course. And (deliberately) without accessing the internet access. Since 22nd July, today is my first opportunity off rest (only 1d after vacation) and work (past 3d), to check into this great Forum.

Find the picture of the MDX below with some poto-poto, somewhere in Bauchi State.  Those who have been to Yankari games reserve can identify with the chalets (more on that on another Thread). . .

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-162811.0.html

J,

How na? We don talk; no personal hard feelings once again.

I've enjoyed the services rendered since start of our transaction, and this glitch has not changed my opinion of your service levels and reliability. And of course, it doesn't derail my personal recommendations.

I forgot to add in my last reply that I will post the pictures, blow by blow accounts, as we familiarise this Yankee-born ride, through our Naija terrain   

jenju:
EI,

All funds have been credited to our account. Car has been PAID IN FULL, and we've delivered it to Fotodaddy as you requested.  Sorry we had to wait for a few more days for the last bank draft to become liquid before fully releasing all papers of the car. I know you appreciate the fact that I provided you with additional financial carrots to ease anger and inconvenience caused by the banks .

Jenju,

Thanks for the incentive but frankly nothing in the real sense could have managed current feelings and anti-climax, since evidence was provided that my accounts were depleted last week Tuesday, while ownership of my MDX was denied till now!   

I understand the general fears associated wrt financial transactions with fellow Nigerians, but my revealed self identity I thought was good enough even if I had not provided the bank draft etc - u get my full details (person no fit run leave my kind job/company accommodation even for many times full value of de moto).

Maybe you take more ownership of finance based decisions. Maybe your lawyer has to mellow down on financial issues, so that this misunderstanding doesn't repeat itself with other customers. Else there is great taint-potential to the so much personal touch and excellent customer focus/value add that you provide.

Save for this last setback, the transaction was quite seamless.

I trust you will stand by your promise for the next transaction. And you are right - by God's grace, never a used car again!

But if 500k is the targetted saving, na run I dey O!   
because for a high end car/SUV, American spec, de savings (over prices from local dealers; Honda Place, Globe Motors etc.) dey far exceed 1m   

Hounslow:
The mileage is 90,000 miles

Price is NOT MORE than N3.85m.

No accident, No Flood Damage. Carfax report provided to serious buyers.

Two Keys, Two Remotes, Manual in Nissan Wallet, Brand New Tires, etc.

Vehicle never driven or registered in naija.

For more details, call 08033366618

Hounslow,

Not sure how cheap this comes but I'm sure your friend, the owner, has quite some integrity.

The vehicle is quite clean and attractive (I never thought a pure white vehicle will ever catch my fancy)!
30,000 miles/year is twice the industry average.
Maybe some sellers would have been tempted to manage that mileage to much less than half the real thing