Working in Nigeria
By Faisal Mirzaof
Reid Crowther International Ltd.
Background
• Joined RCPL in May 1997 in Fraser Valley Office.
• Once completed Surrey Data Capture Project, a stormwater GIS, assigned to Nigeria in January 1999.
• Left in April 1999 after 3 month visa delay.• Returned in May 2000 to Calgary Office.
About Nigeria• Gained Independence from Britain in 1960.• Gone through self serving dictators, a term of
democracy, military control and various coups.• 1970’s, new capital under construction in Abuja,
FCT, center of country to serve all 3 tribes equally - Hausa (North), Igbo (SE), Yoruba (SW) .
• May 1999 transferred from military to civilian rule in Abuja, FCT.
History of RCPL in Nigeria• Interest began in 1985 with the Lagos State Water
Supply Design Project with CIDA/World Bank funding.
• Work began 1989 and completed 1991.• Tendering for Lagos Water Supply Supervision
Project took place 1992-93• 1993-96 Supervision of 800 km of water main in
Lagos area. • Reid Crowther’s reputation for those jobs still exists.
Lagos
Working in Nigeria
• The Country• The Work• The Offices• The Challenges• The Culture• The Life of an Expatriate
The Country
The Saddledome in Lagos?
Abuja
Abuja-Wuse Market
Transport
Garages
Transport
Transport
Go Slows
Okada, Going, Express, Machine
Typical Houses
Akure Downtown Market
Typical Roadside Market
Typical Roadside Market
Eleko Beach
Shopping on the Beach
The Work
Current Projects
• World Bank Assisted Technical Consulting Projects on Water Supply
• Assorted Water Supply Projects for Chevron
Technical Consulting Projects
• Jointly funded by the World Bank and the State Water Corporations
• Reid Crowther is involved with 3 projects for:
Federal Capital Territory Water BoardOndo State Water CorporationEkiti State Water Corporation
Federal Capital Territory Water Board
• The new capital of Nigeria.• Federal Capital Territory or FCT is similar
concept to Washington DC.• Out of all the state projects, FCT was the most
prestigious because of its high profile.• The main city in FCT is Abuja.• Project was worked on by Calgary, Victoria
and Edmonton offices.
Abuja
The Office
The Client (FCTWB)
The House
The Client (World Bank)
Home of the President
Parliament Buildings
Technical Consulting Projects
• Operation and Maintenance Evaluation• Water Audit• Mapping • Customer Enumeration• Training
The Mapping of FCT
Scanned Image on Top of Legal Map
Legal Map in AutoCAD
Ondo and Ekiti Technical Consulting Projects
• Both Ondo and Ekiti used to be one state.• TOR the same as FCT.• Difficult to fulfill many aspects of Terms of
Reference because of conditions of infrastructure.
• Mapping was not available. • Used aerial photography.
Computer Training
Conference at the Sheraton
Chevron
• Nigeria is one of Chevron’s largest operations.• Ugborodu New Town - Full Engineering
Services for new subdivision• Lekki Office Compound Assorted Projects-
Sewage, Drainage, Water, Electrical• Water Supply Projects for various villages in
south western Nigeria.
Ugborodu New Town
Ugborodu New Town
Ugborodu New Town
The Offices
The Offices• 4 Offices in Nigeria with approximately 50 Nigerian staff
and 4 expatriate staff.• Main office is in Lagos with smaller satellite offices in
Abuja (FCT), Akure (Ondo State) and Ado (Ekiti State).• Ian Jesney, Municipal Technical VP is responsible for all
Nigerian operations.• Ken Till is the Senior Project Manager for all Nigerian
Work. • Jacquie Judd (Head Office) acts as liaison for the Nigerian
operations.
The Offices - Lagos
The Offices - Lagos
Lagos Office-10 Years Ago
The Lagos Fleet
Lagos Residence
Abuja-Manager’s Office
The Offices - Abuja
The Offices - Abuja
The Offices-Abuja
The Offices - Ondo
Victoria in Nigeria
Calgary in Nigeria
The Challenges
In the News
Fuel or “Fooell” Crisis
Car Troubles-Call NAA
Typical Roads in the Interior
Typical Roads in the Interior
A Typical Email
Hi Karam,I am currently in the Bush. The transformer by our house caught on fire and we currently have no power. Also, there is a fuel shortage here and I don't have enough to get back to Lagos so I'm trapped here. Moreover, there are riots in between here and Lagos. Sigh.... There is absolutely nothing to do here except work and watch the chickens run around the compound. I’m going to kill that stupid rooster.
Other Challenges• Unreliable Power (NEPA), Telephone (NITEL),
Water and Roads.• “Nigerian Time”• Getting sick - Malaria, Titbu Fly, Typhoid• The rainy season and the “Harmattan”• 419 - not an area code• Tribal tension-Yoruba, Ibo and Hausa.• Bureaucracy of various government agencies.
The Culture
The Culture - Everyday Sayings
• “You’re Welcome”• “Come eat with us”• “Yes, yes, yes”• “Well done!”• “sssssssss”• Safe journey• “You’re not married?”
Mr. Faisal, how…...
• ……is your family?• ……is your body?• ……is work? • ……now?• ……far?• ……is your weekend? (the dash)
Not sure when you can deliver? Say the following:
• “Inshallah” (If it is the will of Allah)• “At the end of the day”• “Soon”• “By the grace of God”
The Naira-Forget Your Wallet
To Take or Not to Take a Picture
Living in Nigeria as a Local
• The extended family• Commuting• Respect - “Alhaji”, “Engr”, “Architect”• Very religious-Church every Sunday, All Day• Muslim and Christian Holidays both taken• Almost no middle class• People living on $40 US/month
Food
• Pepper Soup - Chicken, Fish• Pounded Yam with Soup• Jollof Rice• Meat Pies• “Minerals” aka Soft Drinks• “Bush” Meat• Hot pepper or “Pepper”• Taking a risk with roadside vendors
Varied Degrees of Health Care
Life of an Expatriate
Foreign Residents in Nigeria
• Expatriates for foreign companies• Diplomats for Embassies or High
Commissions• Journalists• Volunteers• Missionaries
But it was a lot of fun...
The Little Things
• Drivers• Security Guards• Cooks trained in Europe• Secured Compound• Respect of the local citizens• ACs, Generators
The Abuja Cook, Mary
Jamming at the US Embassy
Music-Femi Kuti, Son of Fela
RC Party in Abuja
Safari at Yankari Game Reserve
Safari at Yankari Game Reserve
Wikki Hot Springs
Partying with Diplomats
Hobnobbing with Diplomats
Almost meeting Jean Chretien
The Hash
Abuja Golf Course
In Conclusion
• An eye opening experience to life in a 3rd world country and it really makes you appreciate the conveniences and easy lifestyle we take for granted in North America.