₦airaland Forum

It rained cats and dogs yesterday in Abuja and some roads flooded.

I took an unfamiliar route to escape the flood and in the process some part of my fuel tank scrapped an uneven part of the road and is now exposed.

BUT IT IS NOT LEAKING.

What is the name of the protective coating applied to the tank.

I think I should get it and apply it to the entire fuel tank as a protective measure.

Any ideas?

Thanks anyone and everyone!

What's wrong with Total coolant?

Those bottles of Total Coolant are they premixed? In which case, I do not need to add distilled water?

Or they are not premixed? In which case, I need to add distilled water?

Please advice.

Thanks

LadunaI:
I wish you journey mercy from whatever route you eventual take!

That been said, I reside in Ilorin and have been travelling to Abuja several times in the past.

Firstly, most commercial vehicle in the state ply thru kogi - Ekiti state route because the route is ok and somehow safe, as there is no heavy traffic of those big trucks. The down side is often very confuse route for somebody that has not taken that route before.

Secondly, the Niger axis happen to be next one people use, though the road is good except kidnapping happening along there recently. Also, you should expect heavy truck traffic along mokwa-jebba-ilorin road. Though very straight forward to navigate unlike the above.

The last is through Kogi obanjana road where most motorist has long abandoned because the road is badly damaged and not motorable.

Good luck and safe journey!

Thanks a million dearest friend from Ilorin

aieromon:
Omu Aran is a border town linking Ekiti to Ilorin, Kwara State. From Kabba,you will pass through Ekiti towns (Omuo-Ikole-Oye-Iye-Otun) before reaching Omu-Aran in Kwara state.

Passing Obajana to connect Kabba is just to avoid the Okene portion of the expressway. Both roads are poor only that Obajana does not have the crazy drivers overtaking and all. Consider the Obajana route if you don't have good shocks and liver to drive like a mad man in this rainy season.

Thanks brother

Specialist900:
there was a portion between otun ekiti and omuaran that was bad. I don't know if it has been fixed now. But as at the last time it was thru Iye ekiti I went. The route is faster than going thru ifaki - ido-osi - ayetoro - moba/otun - omuaran - ilorin.

I've been trying to lock the route on Google map but it's not selecting it. I could have posted a screen shot of it

thanks brother

I cannot count the number of times I keep getting requests from blue chip firms for Pro Forma Invoice for the commodities I sell!

How should I quote?

A pro-forma is not final.

Investopedia defines it thus:

A pro-forma invoice is a preliminary bill of sale sent to buyers in advance of a shipment or delivery of goods. Typically, it gives a description of the purchased items and notes the cost along with other important information, such as shipping weight and transport charges.

Am I losing business by quoting Recommended Retail Price (RRP) and adding a proviso that if and when they are ready to buy I will give generous discounts?

Or should I simply give them my rock bottom price and hope for the best.

How do purchasing departments in blue chip firms decide on a commodity to buy and who to buy it from?

Lowest price?

Strength of customer service?

Would they rather have my lowest price from the word go? Or is it alright to give them RRP but indicate willingness to discount if and when they want a formal invoice?

Please help o

This economy is not good.

I shouldn't be throwing away opportunities that come my way since they come so few and far between.

All I know operating from outside is that they look for a minimum of 3 quotes.

But do they really get back to find out how much discount they can get?

Specialist900:
there is a 3rd route. Take a right at Oye-Ekiti then thru Iye - ekiti then to kwara. This route bypasses omuaran. It's what most transporters use. It's what I used last year when I did that route.



From abuja to minna as you said is good. Drove to Lambata 2wks back. Potholes covered.


Nice write-up.

So are you saying

Abuja - Lokoja- Kabba -Oye Ekiti - Iye Ekiti - Ilorin?

Is it shorter or are the roads better? from the map Omu Aran seems to be a major road?

Specialist900:
I used this road last year, it's manageable. I'm not sure how good lokoja - obajana - kabba is tho. I'd rather you go through lokoja - okene-kabba.

Drive safe when you do go

Noted.

Obajana is a big no no.

Thanks

Niyinficient:
Every other route is advisable but u see Jebba-Mokwa-Lapai-Suleja road, bros no try am o...dunno if work has resumed on the Jebba 'death trap' tho!

Seems things have changed on the Jebba Road. I do not know if the route recommended below goes through Lapai.

It seems you can go through Jebba to Ilorin without going through Lapai

Ymodulus:
My Advice is as recent as Last week back, Two weeks Back.


[size=15pt]ROUTES[/size]

■Abuja - Minna - Illorin
-Abuja -suleja -Minna city ( Tow Gate at Secretariat )
This road to me is the best. The road from Abuja to Suleja to Minna has been repaired qith no single Port Hole. Some may think am exaggerating, i state that i am not.
The road been a federal Government road was repaired by the Niger state government.
Minna - Abuja is just an Hour 30mins with a speed of 130km/hr.
note the road is free, wide , standard. ( I ran Minna - Suleja around the kerosene tank well owned by the Abia state governent in 58mims. 135km/h )


*Minna - Gidan Kwano ( location of prestigious Futminna ) - Bida
The road is not that bad. when you get to NECO HeadQuarters and close to Risk Management office from that area down to Bida Round About around the Big Mosque is not too good. port holes. Though not all the road, road around Maizube farms owned by Abdulsam is perfect.
I dont think Gidan Kwano - Bida should be a problem as its a 45min journey on 100km/h.

I am so sure of this route cause i do go to one of the biggest yam market around there to run my biz.

*Bida - Mokwa - Jebba Bridge
Soooooooooooooooooooooooo perfect. New tarr, still dark and fresh, smooth.

*Jebba Bridge - Illorin
From Pako to BiriBiri is not good. it is bad.

However from Bode Sadamu down to Illorin na one way. Note, I always follow the route where i burts out at the new Ilorin High way at the bridge i take the left towards Ilorin Airport road which is close Geri Alimi Round About.

This is illorin and from there shouldnt be a problem. I dont know ilorin much Just Geri Alimi, Tanke, Taiwo, Basin Area.


■ Abuja - Lokoja - Obajana - Kabba - Ekiti - Illorin

From Airport road down following the Shehu Musa Yaradua way down to Lokoja is smooth.
Though note that the lane from lokoja is not as smooth as lane from Abuja to lokoja.

When you get to Lokoja around the International Market take your right straight to around 100km there is a Y junction take same right to Obajana then to Kabba.

State of Obajana Road: Obajana Road is in a state of total Disarray ( Too much portholes ans the road is not tarred in several area, even where the road is tarr has several portholes. However This seems to be the shortest route.

Kabba Road is also not that good. however from One end of ekiti to the other end is okay.

Note: There are two roads to ilorin from Ekiti.
1. Through Ifaki - Omu Aran - Ijara Isin directly into Illorin around kukulende Market area.

2. Through Aramoko - Ijesin - Inisa -Offa - Ilorin. ( i dont follow this route anylonger, its usually empty. You wont see vehicles on the road. And believe me security is something of utmost concern. Drom offa to illorin is busy but before offa is a no. please take route 1)

Take Route 1, even Some bike men all way from Kwara state working in Ado Ekiti take this route.

Sunmary: Abuja - Lokoja- Kabba - Ekiti - Ilorin ( through Omu Aran Route )


■. Abuja - Lokoja - Okene - Ekiti - Kwara ( Do not follow this route. Public behicles dont follow this area. )




THINGS TO Be worried Of?
Nothing. As long as your car is in good conditions ans brake is okay, just fire dei go one way.

You might need the Ac of your car working because around Obajana is extremely dusty.

You should have valid documents. custom paper might not really be a problem as i rarely see custom officials on this side of the road. I mean the recommended route i laid down below.

*Have valid Driving license.
*Have Fire extinguisher, C- Caution, Spare Tyre. This means no bribe to any official on the road. Except you wish too.
* Please if your tinted permit is the old vehicle tinted permit, kindly have the tint off. Else you just attracting problems for yourself. Those highway patrol are much around kwara.

Recommended Route: Abuja - Lokoja- Obajana - Kabba - Ekiti - Ilorin ( through Omu Aran Route ).


My experience- A week - 3weeks old.

Thanks for the detailed and modular response.

You answered the questions:
- Which route is safe to drive and why?
-What should I be worried of?
- What should I plan for
- What should I look out for?

You have been so kind.

You basically wrote a treatise on going to Ilorin and back from Abuja.

You provided landmarks and even approximate driving time from various points.

You not only recommended routes, but provided reasons for doing so. You also provided alternative routes (handy in case something goes wrong and it becomes necessary to divert)

Thanks for also providing the context - your advice based on your experiences less than a month old.

I really appreciate, could you throw more light on the state of the roads from Obajana to Ilorin, although from the analysis above, going through Niger State is better!

Is my analysis right that from Jebba bridge to Ilorin is about 3 hours 30 minutes?

I can see you have timelines for the Niger route but no timelines for the Kogi route

In summary:


1. Abuja - Suleja - Minna - Bida - Mokwa - Jebba Bridge - Ilorin (8 hours) RECOMMENDED
--Abuja to Minna: Good 1hour 30 minutes
--Minna to Bida: part 1 (up to NECO) not that bad, part 2 (up to Bida R/About) not too good, part 3 (Around Maizube Farms) near perfect 1 hour
--Bida to Mokwa to Jebba Bridge: Perfect 2hours
--Jebba Bridge to Ilorin: part 1(Pako to Biri Biri) is bad, part 2(Bode Sadamu to Ilorin) is good 3hours 30minutes

2. Abuja - Lokoja - Kabba - Ekiti - Ilorin (9 hours) via Omu Aran RECOMMENDED
--Abuja to Lokoja: Fairly smooth 2hours
--Lokoja to Obajana: Total Disarray although it is the shortest link ?
-- Obajana to Kabba: Not that good except from one end of ekiti to the other end of Ekiti ?
--Kabba to Ilorin:Not that good except from one end of ekiti to the other end of Ekiti ?

3. Abuja - Lokoja - Okene - Ekiti - Ilorin NOT RECOMMENDED

In short you recommend two routes, but your heart is really with the Niger State route given how much facts and details you have provided for that one!

vlco:
Yes, the Lokoja kabba Ilorin route is not that bad, Wishing you a safe trip.

Amen

vlco:
Lokoja to Ilorin should be about 4-5 hours, then add Abuja to Lokoja.

So we are considering about 4-5 hours plus 2-3 hours

between 6 and 8 hours total driving time conditions being favourable

hello guys and girls, I appreciated your advice to the guy going to Lagos from Abuja.

Please advice me as well.

Most of my special advisers LOL are using 2014 and 2015 experience.

But that is problematic because the current state of the road to Benin from Abuja was pretty good in 2014 and 2015 compared to what it is now. Who knows if that is not the case with the route to Ilorin

I am going to Ilorin from Abuja.

God bless you.

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Business has demanded that I go to Ilorin next week.

I feel it is a sin to have a car and use public transportation.

Certainly those whose loved ones have cars and who have perished in public transportation will agree.

I place a great premium on life and so do not take unnecessary risks and my vehicle is very well maintained.

Google suggests two routes - Via Niger State and Via Kogi State.

Here Maps suggests three routes - two via Kogi and one via Niger State

Is there another route? You know, You cannot find the route taken by commercial vehicles from Lagos to Abuja via Google!

The other issue is what is the state of that road?

Is it safe to drive?

What should I be worried of?

What should I plan for?

What should I look out for?

Who has plied it recently?

What happens if it rains? Does it flood?

How many hours does it take?

Thanks

aieromon:
The road is manageable.....you can choose to connect Kabba from Lokoja via Obajana.

As for the the Jebba-Mokwa route,I won't advise anybody to ply that route except under the strict instructions of a truck driver who can tell you the current state of the expressway.

Thanks for your words of comfort.

Anyways, I will keep you informed via this thread if and when I go.

vlco:
This time last year the road was in a mess, can't really know the present state. Just try and leave early and go with a strong car.

Thanks.

How many hours does it take?

kingreign:
Follow Kogi route. don't follow Minna Jebba route, Na evil route with heavy crater infested road be that.

Thanks.

Even for the Kogi road, just run a search on Lokoja Kabba Ilorin road.

The narrative on this road online is very disheartening!

Who has plied it recently?

What happens if it rains? Does it flood?

Business has demanded that I go to Ilorin next week.

I feel it is a sin to have a car and use public transportation.

Certainly those whose loved ones have cars and who have perished in public transportation will agree.

I place a great premium on life and so do not take unnecessary risks and my vehicle is very well maintained.

Google suggests two routes - Via Niger State and Via Kogi State.

Here Maps suggests three routes - two via Kogi and one via Niger State

Is there another route? You know, You cannot find the route taken by commercial vehicles from Lagos to Abuja via Google!

The other issue is what is the state of that road?

Is it safe to drive?

What should I be worried of?

What should I plan for?

What should I look out for?

Thanks

Mazda MPV 2000

Will hit 304,000 km (190,000 miles) in a couple of days.

Looking forward to 500,000 km (310,685 miles) in 4 years time.

Also anal retentive about maintenance.

Running the car cause I love it

Spent 4 times the current value of the car on maintenance since purchase so will never sell to anyone unless they can pay me 8 times the cost of the car LOL

Since that will never happen, no plans to sell it ever.

Will update with pic when it hits 190,000 miles

How much does it cost to charter above for the following destinations

1) Abuja to Lagos
2) Abuja to Enugu

What's the rate per day?

How much does it cost to charter above for the following destinations

1) Abuja to Lagos
2) Abuja to Enugu

What's the rate per day?

Please where in Nigeria can I get these

Thanks for responding

Used by Ford and Mazda engines

if you sell or know someone who sells, please drop his/her contact details or send me a PM

Thanks

Catch: I want it from someone who sells it in Abuja

chukel:
Bravo. A lot of write up. Pictorial representation will do more talk. U kn hw it is... Pics or...

Will do.

In other news, no more shorts!

Will start it tomorrow, but everything checks out electronically or electrically using my multimeter

Interesting when you get down and dirty.

It always takes longer than you think.

Several wires are shorted, just by the engine and the exhaust very close to the firewall. This is apart from shorted wires at the point firewall itself where the wires both enter/exit the firewall.

Why are some mechanics so wicked or inconsiderate or thoughtless?

There is NO heat shield sleeve on the wiring harness and the wiring harness is resting on the engine and the exhaust.

Why will the wires not burn?

All they used is the adhesive tape and I can deduce that from the tons of adhesive sticking to the wires within the wiring harness. Although all the adhesive tape had long since fallen away.

So I decided to wash the part of the wiring harness taken from behind the engine and the exhaust so that it would be easier to inspect them for damages, and as the water cleared, I saw something interesting. Don't know if this is standard practice, but I am certain before I ever have to start the car, all the water would have dried.

Lots of burnt or on the way to being burnt and discolored wires.

Needless to say a short is a unintended path for current flow. So I can see now why the car computer is confused.

Good that I caught this early, I am safely assume that more wires would eventually get burnt, a fire could be started, and inexplicable trouble codes could come up all because of this.

So far all sections of the wiring harness that checked out have been comprehensively heated shielded, and by the time I am through with this process, every single inch of wire within the wiring harness in the engine compartment will be heat shielded.

Also, the dashboard is down also.

I want to do a thorough job.

I got one of those guys that are familiar with taking my brand of car apart when it is sold to the junk yard to help me dismantle the dashboard.

Am glad I did, we worked together though. I could have done it alone but 1.it would take longer; 2. the job is a bit technical; 3. the service manual says, two people should dismantle the dashboard and 4. I got several bruises from working in the engine compartment without gloves so I am having serious problems removing connectors without assistance

failed wires within the wiring harness

bad previous repair job, guess why I am doing it myself? As if I knew!

does anyone know where I can buy the standard non-adhesive tap for repairing wiring harnesses

butt connectors, they don't even sell those in dedicated electronic shops, how sad, they say customers don't ask for those, so they don't sell

all we got in Nigerian auto markets is the adhesive type, and we know what heat does to those.

I'll be done with the job tomorrow.

This is a painstaking job.

I also washed all the wires that got mud on them due to failed insulators, and let them dry before reinstalling the insulators

Thank goodness for the holiday, otherwise, I just would never have started, but I guess I will have to sacrifice another 6 hours to get this done and done well tomorrow

Thanks for all the help everyone

I spent 12 hours tearing apart the wiring harness, checking each wire for shorts

and then zeroing in on the shorts

I also intend to completely replace the insulators

I want to do a job that can last another 5 to 10 years

I saw evidence of a bad repair job, imagine removing the shielding from a failed wire and leaving it totally bare from the firewall to the PCM

Siena:
[color=Blue]Like the Bosch narrow band Lambda in VAG models, where there are 4 wires;

White.
White.
Black.
Grey.

The 2 same coloured wires are not polarity sensitive. It doesn't matter which way round you connect them. [/color]

Most appreciated!

hip hip hip

hurray

I found the short!

details later...

a few wires melted into themselves

GAZZUZZ:
black has no polarity. It is a heater just needs juice

Thanks boss!

You are the man!

Siena:
[color=Blue]The average Nigerian is way too sensitive, and will always equate being blunt with rudeness. I get it all the time. I state my opinion brusquely, and I get attacked for being rude. I've kind of come to the opinion, you need to have a thick hide to interact online, otherwise it's best if you don't bother.

ZIMDRILL was blunt in his response, but I would not say he was rude, that's just the way he is. Most of his comments are put across in a similar fashion.[/color]

Hello Siena

Please help me here: https://www.nairaland.com/3135659/oxygen-sensor-wiring-polarity-pics#46105351

I decided to create a new topic to address it rather than nest it here since it is slightly off-topic and to help future searches by those with a similar problem

I decided to tear down my electrical wiring to search and find and fix the short I have been talking about for a while

I was pretty careful but in a whiff I lost my carefulness and removed all the wires from a melted 02 sensor, it had melted because it was touching the exhaust.

I guess that must be why I have been having P1173 recently.

Now the two wires am worried about are the black wires.

I know the appropriate connectors for the white and blue.

So question is does polarity matter or not with the black wires, see a picture attached