₦airaland Forum

Marilo:
I seriously wish that many of the artisans and professionals in the construction industry will come out and disprove the fact that they are fraud and affirm that they stand above board. I have had business dealings with some people from/on NL. I know someone who's relatively unknown who supplies granite/sand. This guy did exactly what I told him even surpassed my expectation He delivered to my site at 2AM. He told me of his challenges and I had to part with some extra money voluntarily. I also know of somebody who sent somebody to my site without asking for "transport fare" (I wouldn't know if he forgot to ask for that) and till tomorrow (until anything untoward happen, which I don't foresee) I will continue to seek for his service. I know of somebody who "litter" the whole thread with advertisement, he has never ceased to disappoint. In fact,his second name is disappointment! (Note that in all cases, money never ever exchange hands until service/goods have been delivered).

Nairaland gives people opportunity to reach the world,it gives opportunity to seal million naira deals. It offers a veritable platform to breakthrough in their chosen profession. We should therefore not keep quiet when people find it as a means to rip people off. That is a great diservice to hard working people. Now coming to nairaland to compain about artisans as well as other professionals in the construction industry when things goes awry,it tells them they have to be fair in their dealings as well as help safeguard against marauders and serve as some form of psychological check on people who might want to play a fast one.

One fact is there are fraudsters on nairaland and there are superstars. Let us promote superstars when we see one and condemn fraudsters. The best form of due dilligence is the work of superstars that others speak of/recommend here and the condemnation received by fraudsters who come up with unending excuses.

That is not to rule out the fact that there could be communication breakdown between parties involved in a business deal. A discerning mind can tell what has transpired is nothing but breakdown in communication. That is totally different from fraud.

Please let us call a spade a spade,expose whoever or whatever is detrimental to people's investment/hard-earned money. In the same light, praise the good work of others when they deserve it. That is one great service we can do to each other as artisans/professionals and investors/clients. SPEAK OUT WHEN YOU CAN IF YOU CAN, IT GOES A LONG WAY.

Thank you, like you said in your write up some are communication gab. We understand that. We' ve bing around here for a while, some of this guys never thought the will be getting global attention like they do, not until they started getting millions of Naira contracts from faceless people around the world, without global ethics of doing business. Many of them wanted to be doing business just like the do there. The forget by not satisfying one customer small or big job, may bring there name to gutter. If couple of us that ve'd deal with them started speaking out on dealing, it will be very few names that will be standing in this section. Pls guys do you diligent from old schools that bing around here for a while before commenting your had earn money to anyone just because the are very good in writing 10 page of story and posting nice display pictures of site.

snakebeat:
What details are u composing sir? This isn't the first time someone will remarked how shoddy your job was. Sometime back on this same thread, your client pointed out how dubious u are & how u executed his work with levity. Even fastshipping attested to your poor perfomance on site back then, but choosed to remain silent for reason best known to him....& i could vividly remember how madam gabbytabby called fastshipping out for keeping such a thing, it almost degenerated to an e-war between gabbytabby & fastshipping. Only God know the number of persons fastshipping would have saved from your dubious hands if only he had exposed u as at that time. Every professional in the construction industry knows how difficult it is to build a clientelle, i really don't know the joy u guys derive from crumbling a name that took u so much effort to build. If a job is beyond u, don't accept it. Handle jobs that are within your capacity & deliver, that is what matters...pls save this thread the explanation you are cooking & make amends. Choose a particular area & focus on it. U can't be a roofer & be educating people on number of blocks needed for a fencing project...We all have shortcomings, but if u have more than one complainer, i think it is best u reflect on your ways & make amends for your own good.

Very few of them as that principle of not taking more jobs then the can handle, one of them in my case I tried is adorable respective one is AVENTURES. There is also Arrogant one that believes his more then what he is not even up too in my opinion. I don't what to put his name on sport, whom ever deal with him will know is his attitude.

mufutau55:
Not true. Many people came to Fastshipping site lookibg for you... even your Carpenter if I can remember correctly... Pls dont let Fastshipping and Segzy14 open more can of worms.

Hajji M.

I missed out, so busy in office with the snow storm that hit our system. Anyway hajji a beg know open many things you knew about some of these so called contractors in all aspects of this building section, from builder to electrician to plumbers, roofers, tilers , borehole drillers ETC. FORO SIKUN BI AGBA KI E FOWO LERAN NI OH Like you always do.

Empiree:
Lol


You need this (attachment). It is good to stick with same service provider for very long to be able to sync all their benefits.

I have been with T-mobile since 2003. I used to pay for data (5gig internet) for 35$ and it slows after I used it all. Last month they coverted my plan to UNLIMITED fast SPEED Internet for 20$ bcus I have been with them for long.

Also my call and text have always been UNLIMITED with local and international text for 65$ plus visual voicemail for 5$. Now i dey enjoy t-mobile a lot.

I used to worry about my data now I'm not.

Guys stop wasting your money with ATT, shop around for smaller networks like, metro, lycamoble and many others that give service at a less cost of ATT tax on your bill. I used ATT for 95- 04 before I realized, I was wasting money with so called unlimited lies even with the there discount. My bill now is less then ATT tax, before I out of the network.

EgunMogaji:
Questions for USA folks.

Are you using a service to send text messages to Nigeria? For some reason I'm not able to send text messages to Nigeria on AT&T.

Thanks.

Do you have long distance plain with them, if not in New York it won't go through. Or the charged you per text.

Qc1:
My people, just last year there wasn't any house here ( pic below), I was the last house on the extreme end, but now the place have turned to a beautiful estate with some world class mansions.

And they said "Naija dey for recession"?

I have similar experience in 2 locations in 2 different states. The first one, I was the first on the block, in one year over 15 house in different stages. The second one was coupled of houses half way build, in 10 months with my at roofing stage again almost 20 houses around now remember they have to build and complete. As of today 8 people have moved in. I wonder oh, with all most very body crying recession. Anything way person want buy the double the price and tell you say Na dollar, and recession.

Chekitaut:
Something surprised me about Nigeria, this country is blessed is the major reason we are not know to war.

Imagine everyone shout recession but my clients are not recessed it may surprise you to know i supplied material to a 4 bedroom duplex @Chevy View Estate in less than 7weeks carcass is at 85% remaining roofing. I wish all money sent to me was to boost my capital base, but no be so.

I pray for my clients and intending ones, God will continue to strengthen & bless them. Money used to build you can not save it. It just come.

I pray any wishing to build God will suprise you. IJN Amen

This is our people mentality when it's come to money, sorry oh money just don't come like that. It's came from hard work long time planing, just because the guy builds his house Caracas in 7 week it's looks like magic to you. Do you know how long his be planning and saving his money for it. Guys, genuine money just don't come ok, it's takes hard work and time time to get there. Pray and start planning for yours, just don't expect money come to you overnight. Put your mind to it, cut off unnecessary spending star saving you will there too.

mufutau55:
Agreed. Adebaxton has been on many occasions involved in my build too, he knows my site quite well... Well respected, but always busy.
@Adebaxton, welcome back.

Hajji M.

This is life, everyone can see why good name is better then few Naira. Two of my oga's at the top came right away to defend these gentlemen reputation, and to assert to his name. Oga you may hire someone to do all the posting for you if you're to busy, so that many of us that may have not seen your job before, to have opportunity to do so.

adebaxton:
Been in the construction field with diverse experience on and off nairaland... served so many Nairalanders till date, I find it so difficult how individuals come in here portraying themselves as Engr,QS,Architect without being certified or even qualified in any way.
It's time, We all make proper consultation on any so called contractor on Nairaland and beyond.

With due respect sir, why don't you show case your job here first for global scrutiny before criticizing other competence?

diordaves:
Apart from outright dishonesty and NO customer service, my experience has a lot to do with poor budgeting skills. Majority of tradesmen/women in Nigeria tend to eat their profit upfront and part of the project funds as well and hoping to make this up with either the next segment of payment or from a new client. And if business is slow with no new in-coming client to fill the void created by spending profit upfront or client refusing to cough up more funds until previous funds are justified, trouble starts.

My experience with my casement window was a case in point. After the normal referencing I commissioned the windows for N1.4 million. The guy asked for N600k as mobilisation which was paid. So I got on the plane and came back home. A month after mobilisation, nothing on ground. So I called. Excuses of being busy which is a good thing. I like busy tradesmen. Two months; still nothing. Three months.......oh please Sir it's not my fault. I deposited money for materials with the aluminium company so they are producing as we speak.

So I verified the "company" and made a call to the company. Nothing of the sort! Got back to Aluminium guy; ha yes I've asked for the money back and I will now go to Onitsha or even "Asaba sef" to get materials. Five months from mobilisation he now got some materials from wherever. The original plan is to commission the windows flat by flat but now the guy is asking for more funds as according to him he has bought ALL the alu profile so no funds to execute. So I disbursed another N300k making N900K with N500K balance. We are in month six going seven. At month 9, some windows were delivered to site and mounted and my foreman on ground sent me photos. Hell broke loose! The design of the partly delivered windows is not what was commissioned. I'm building a traditional purposely built flats so I want it to have some character, not the childish letter "T" and inverted letter "T". See pix. We argued about this and I was told by my Oga aluminium tradesman that my chosen style is old fashion; "excuse me Sir, na this style dey reign that your style don reign pass". I was prevailed on by my folks to let go, so I did. Now what about the quality?

I was told by my Oga aluminium tradesman that my chosen style is old fashion; "excuse me Sir, na this style dey reign that your style don reign pass". I was prevailed on by my folks to let go, so I did. Now what about the quality?

I thought I was the only one the, always do these to. Most of these artisan doing what they want not what the are told to do. The worst part of it, they do it without consulting the owner. I believe some of them deliberately do it to maximize their profits. Even when some of them contact the owner, most time is after the may have cut all the material so one may be force to do it there way. To sad, these happen every time.

marylandcakes:
@Myesky I think I have been more than patient with you, I never wanted to bring this out on this forum but you have given me no choice. You took on the contract to supply galvanised protectors to my site in November 2016, The agreement was 50% down payment, 25% on delivery and balance of 25% once everything has been installed and okay.
You hadn't even completed the first part of the bargain when you started asking for more money to which I refused saying we should stick to what we agreed. You delayed my project and only brought some of the stuff to site about two weeks ago. You brought substandard materials to site and my Uncle who is managing my project ask you to return them. You promised to rectify and during this process my uncle caught you trying to sneak in the substandard metal and you had to remove it.
Despite the fact that you didn't deliver all the goods you were still paid the 25% , you have now been paid 75% of the money.

You were supposed to have delivered these goods before the plasterers finished their jobs early December. The plastering job finished and I had to call them back to site and pay extra but now because of your inability to deliver all the goods as agreed they are getting frustrated and have threatened to abandon the job.

I have also had to increase my original fees for my Alluminium man because of your delay the products have increased in the market. I don't really want to get into a slanging match with you and please stop giving pathetic excuses like school fees and all sorts. I will give you till the end of this week if you don't deliver you can forget your balance I will use that to hire someone else to get the job done.

You create such a professional image on here but you are not based on my dealings with you I am very disappointed in you and will not be touching you with a badge pole ever again.

Another one again, what is wrong with most of these guys for God sake? Why, why, why? Everybody want be millionaire over night....

marylandcakes:
@Myesky I think I have been more than patient with you, I never wanted to bring this out on this forum but you have given me no choice. You took on the contract to supply galvanised protectors to my site in November 2016, The agreement was 50% down payment, 25% on delivery and balance of 25% once everything has been installed and okay.
You hadn't even completed the first part of the bargain when you started asking for more money to which I refused saying we should stick to what we agreed. You delayed my project and only brought some of the stuff to site about two weeks ago. You brought substandard materials to site and my Uncle who is managing my project ask you to return them. You promised to rectify and during this process my uncle caught you trying to sneak in the substandard metal and you had to remove it.
Despite the fact that you didn't deliver all the goods you were still paid the 25% , you have now been paid 75% of the money.

You were supposed to have delivered these goods before the plasterers finished their jobs early December. The plastering job finished and I had to call them back to site and pay extra but now because of your inability to deliver all the goods as agreed they are getting frustrated and have threatened to abandon the job.

I have also had to increase my original fees for my Alluminium man because of your delay the products have increased in the market. I don't really want to get into a slanging match with you and please stop giving pathetic excuses like school fees and all sorts. I will give you till the end of this week if you don't deliver you can forget your balance I will use that to hire someone else to get the job done.

You create such a professional image on here but you are not based on my dealings with you I am very disappointed in you and will not be touching you with a badge pole ever again.

Again what is wrong with most of these guys for God sake? Why, why, why? Everybody want be millionaire over night....

olawale100:
I am writing this review not to cast aspersion on anybody's character but to guide and inform would be (future) clients on the likely quality of service they may get when you engage Engr Osaz – real name Osazuwa Enobakhare
I wanted to do pile foundation for a property at Ikate Elegushi, Lekki area of Lagos.
I got three quotes from nairalanders and after careful analysis and comparison, I decided to go with Engr. Osaz. I must confess my decision to go with Engr. Osaz was after reading the nice review written by one of his client, a medical doctor about the good job Engr. Osaz did for him at Isheri and also because he repeatedly stated that he is a structural engineer and will ensure the project will be properly & personally supervised.

After initial discussion and a quote was sent, I requested for a contract, he mentioned it won’t be necessary because the job is not that “big and serious”.
He sent his quote and I did not negotiate at all because I believe I am getting a value added service after Engr. Osaz assured me that he being a structural engineer will ensure the project is properly supervised and handled.
After mobilizing him with about 25% of the project cost, he came to site with some equipment, I enquired from him where the drilling machine is, I was shocked when he said he will use hand drilling option. I informed him I am not comfortable with this option because the piles are 10 meters deep, and 450mm diameter for 45 pile points. At no time did he specified that hand drilling will be used. Lesson learnt is that when dealing with people, there should be no assumption at all.
He reviewed the cost upward. At that time I was not willing to go ahead with him again. He had dug a borehole (I agreed to provide the submersible pump). I informed him that he should deduct the cost of the borehole and transport for the hand drills. I stated categorically that I will only use mechanical drilling machine, he said he review the cost and get back to me. He reviewed the cost upward by 300k. I perused and informed him he should just refund me less borehole and transport cost, he later sent another email that he has reverted to the original quote.
At this point, I sensed it may be difficult and hectic to retrieve money from Engr. Osaz without it getting ugly or resulting to waste of time, I decided to go ahead with him. He requested for additional funds. I was not willing to part with more funds without seeing the drilling machine on site. He persuaded me that once I move the funds to him, he will bring the machine and move to site and ensure there is good progress on the project. After paying him, it took about two days for him to bring the machine to site. I lost my cool and reached out to him. I practically called him about 2o times within a period of 5 hours, his phone did not go through, always going to voicemail.
Eventually, the next day, they started drilling, I got to site, I could not see any casting machine, I asked Osaz, Osaz said they will use dry mix. I have a supervising engineer on site who at this time became so furious and refused to allow work to proceed until a casting machine is brought to site. Osaz refused to provide a casting machine, stating the cost will be borne by me. I made arrangement for 6 days for casting machine and operator. I paid from my pocket for this. At this point, Osaz had been paid about 78% of the project cost.
My supervising engineer is always on site and was not happy with the handling and execution of the project. Osaz apparently subcontracted the drilling job to someone else and was not there to supervise as he had promised. About the 4th day, 26 pile points had been drilled and casted.
On day 5, Osaz came late in the evening to site and was having challenges paying the caster 10,000. Nobody was supervising the casting process. He charged me over 3 times of what he was paying them. My engineer informed me about this and I was really upset.
I came to site the next morning, the caster informed me that the casting crew are not happy with the rate Osaz is paying them, they had casted 5 points the day before and each of them got 1,000 each. I arranged 6 workers, promised to pay them 2,200 per point, bought shovels and decided to take over the casting as I was really disappointed with the way Osaz was going about the project.
In the Afternoon, I got the greatest shock on this project, the drillers down tooled, Osaz had only paid them for 20 points and they were supposed to be paid for another 20 points before they can proceed. I had to breach protocol, I engaged the drillers because I cannot afford my project to be stalled. (I am also paying for the casting machine on a daily basis) I enquired how much is being owed for the remaining 25 pile points. They told me it is 375,000. I moved 300,000 to the owner of the drilling machine and he immediately directed his boys to commence work. Osaz was no where to be found, he was incommunicado. He had the effrontery to call me and tell me cock and bull stories. I told him I have left him to God but I just had to let people know the type of person this guy is.
AT the end, I paid for the concrete job for the last 12 points, I paid the drillers a sum of N375,000
Net, I lost some money but not so much, Osaz abandoned the job after he had collected a huge chunk of money from me for the project.
He stopped coming to site altogether and most painful is when you call him and his phone does not go through. His is the most irresponsible behavior I have seen in a “professional”. I told him that most of my artisans that are not educated are more reliable and protect their reputation better.
Osaz is not a man of his words, as a feedback, I will never engage Engr Osaz again and if I know anyone that is interested in engaging him, I will advise the party accordingly.
That is my personal experience with this man

Man I hate to read stories like this about get paid for job, now to pay the poor guys doing the job almost nothing. Another issue is between people involved everyone just want to cut his pie out of the owner, even if is one blood brothers or family members. Naija which way forward, enough of this nonsense.

mavverick:
Oga Kopell

You know my flats are for the masses, this board will be like 1 year rent o . I thought something like a small simple device. I dont even have where to put this kind of board. Thanks for the tip sha.

My Oga this thing are not that expensive, the important thing is to get the right guy to do it. Some of them are between $100- 200. This are the electronic ones, they are may others that can do the same thing. When I get home later I'll explain.

diordaves:
I'm rarely offended. It's ok.

All that may be needed is to get a two-way splitter or connector. Pipe one inlet to the upper tank and pipe the other to the lower tank. Whichever tank that got full first will stop receiving further water and when the other is full, it stops as well. Shikena.

See pix

Why did you get offended, like I said we are here to learn. We should be challenging our artesian, for critical thinking. You have to understand these tanks are not going to be empty at the same time, it easy to pumped water to each one of them at the same time, it's even easier with split check valve. Let me give you example of what I think will help him. A little brain card can be installed in the same pump box, just like the electric mother card that control your house AC or heting system. This card can let you zone your heat or AC to where you may need them. It's didn't make any economic since to let AC in and empty room downstairs running, when the AC only needed in 2 rooms upstairs. That panel you saw was just an example, if you think that is complicated while is not in my opinion because, the boy that make it is in middle school not even high school. Sorry for offending you, we still going to need your ideas to improve most of our artesian knowledge. I just don't like doing things the same way every time, that why I always trying to encourage creative minds.

diordaves:
You may not need this seemingly complicated switch board mechanism. Why not simplify things by re-pipping to use the traditional time tested method: float valve.

It's the same mechanism to stop float in WC at home. It's highly effective, no matter the water pressure, once the tank is full it FULL STOP. See pix.

Right very effective current, remember these are multiple tank on different levels. Pls help explain in lay man term how to repipe the floater, without any kind of brain that will tell the systems to push water from lower tank to next tank at the other level. Pls don't be offended we are here to learn and help each other. Remember I said many ways.

mavverick:
Is this something that is sold or needs to be made ? Also does that mean 3 floating switches ? IF you got some info on this device, that would be helpful.

Thre are many way of doing this, I will explain when am less busy. It's can be made or find one that can work for the purpose you need for. Some thing like this, this one is made by students that came to my office for internship or industrial attachment as the call it there.

mavverick:
Oga Spyder


All respect and hailing you as usual. These pics are very good and helps in the learning process, I have advised some friends on water tank based on my own experience, but I want to run something pass you/PRO's in the house as well, just to help validate my point.

So initially I wanted just 2 tanks on same level to be connected to each other, but things happened and I didn't get what I wanted (long story). Anyway, now i find myself in a position whereby I got 3 tanks on 3 levels (bottom 2 supply same place and are linked), honestly speaking I dont like it like that. Its too complicated as I like simplicity, I bought floating switch and the corresponding 4mm cable to power it, now I have had to disconnect the floating switch because there was just no efficient way for it to work.

Installing the floating switch on the top most tank would switch off the pump if it became full, irrespective of whether the bottom 2 were empty, so what was happening was that the top most would get full, and middle for example half full and borehole will switch off. So i disconnected it and then split the borehole supply pipe into 3, one for each tank with an isolation valve to open/close it independently.

So the security guy has to pump water into tank 1, wait for it to get full, then switch off the valve and then move onto tank 2 etc.

If there any automation that can be introduced in this particular case to remove that manual intervention and yet have all 3 tanks efficiently filled up ?

Moving forward, I advise friends to put it on same level, that way you link the tanks and you can also have floating switch working. As it is now, I bought floating switch and like 100m of 4mm cable, although I will remove the cable and use it elsewhere.

Bros all you need is electronic distribution board to transmit the floater sensor of each one of the tank automatically when each tank is full

spyder880:
More tanks from different places..........

Oga Sypder what is the height of the third 1, how good was the pressure of the top and the middle tanks. This tower cost is not a joke now with all Iron prices skyrocketing, especially the H beams. I also like you to explain in details the kind of floater or automatic overflow switch as you guys call it there , you used or will recommend for the overflow.

allCopacetic:
Water and electricity don't mix well.

There are strict regulations for safely locating mere wall sockets in bathrooms. let alone having all that water directly above all that power. you should give it careful consideration

Thanks for reminding us, I didn't read any comments in regard to this concern from any of our electricians in the house.

desiji:
Look b4 iron door

Please what is the height of this your water tank house, how good is the flow of your water pressure?

EgunMogaji:
This explains what happened to my tank. I now believe that I may have been sold an inferior product.

That is not reason it's crack, some of them are design for chemical only. Look for the symbol on it, will tell you what is made for.

Larwin:
They were actually supposed to be produced as a rubber so as to be able to withstand enough stress and variable temperatures. but u know nigeria now...there will always be a second product.

The plastics are the lower grade, they break easily being of a brittle nature.

I still stand to be corrected tank are plastic not rubber guys, 3 type of plastics low density and high densities ok, low once are the once supposed to be used for tanks ok. Pls do your research well guys .

twinskenny:
i price 2k litter now 49k for geepee

i do hope is geepee though rubber not plastic.. they said they have plastic for 38k

Bros which one bi rubber again, to my knowledge most tanks are made with plastic oh, expect those of metal steel. Abi Naija done invent something better with rubber?

NL1960:
This is the main reason why my duplex in the villa is 4-bedroom. My family wanted to increase it but i gave a stern warning that on no account should the interior plans be amended and that anybody that amends it by adding more rooms will take over the responsibility of funding the build. Na so everybody maintain.

I like that your last word.

chidexy:
hi guys,

could anyone please help me out with the current prices of plastic water storage tanks. From 2k liters upwards for various brands.

Thanks

I brought storex 2500 liters plastic water tank 45k in Ilorin last week.

FastShipping:
I once discussed with one guy in technology section here who advised me against bringing in the gadget because the gadgets in the U.S are made to function in countries using 110 volts. He said the batteries from the U.S are the worst available.

I am really interested in it if I can find an honest technician to do this for me. I'm yet to meet one single honest Nigerian to work for me. Not even one.

]Haba, there are couple of them right here, yes just do some background check on who to deal with, and who not to deal with.

desiji:
you are right i am really comtemplating bringing it down from my Base. i am also a little bit in the Branch IT(communication technology) so they won't be able to sell wash fo´r me, all terminologies, workings and how the System functions i will be one buying all the gadgets just the installation i will give out

Haba, there are couple of them right here, yes just do some background check on who to deal with, and who not to deal with.

desiji:
Pics but not in a ordered line

Man good job with this water tank stand, I miss calculate when I was building my security house to place it on top, the water tower now costing me fortune.

Qc1:
These coast N2,700 in Orile, except those on the stairs which cost N3,750 each.

Qc1 I noticed you didn't do screening in your house walls before tiles, or you intend to do it after tiles?

desiji:
oga Kopell that is too small to power a Duplex with every accessories and i don't think the Kw will be enough compared to a solar array

sorry just to busy yesterday ni o. I will do more research about the capacity and get back to house soon.

desiji:
oga Kopell that is too small to power a Duplex with every accessories and i don't think the Kw will be enough compared to a solar array

sorry just to busy yesterday ni o. I will do more research about the capacity.