27/01/2026
Before You Judge a Nigerian Contractor, Please Read This!
I saw a post yesterday where someone said:
“Be careful with a Nigerian contractor — they quote a project for ₦30 million and end up spending ₦15 million.”
Now, I don’t know the details of that particular case, so I won’t speak on that specific project. But let me speak as a professional in this construction industry with my name, experience, and integrity on the line.
There is no professional contractor who will mark up profit and overhead by 50%.
With the rising cost of materials and the current economic realities in Nigeria, no serious contractor will quote a ₦30 million project for ₦15 million. It’s not realistic.
But here’s the issue:
Most clients don’t judge projects by value or durability they judge by the lowest cost.
They compare the final amount spent with what a contractor quoted, without asking the hard questions:
• What were the changes in scope?
• What quality of materials was used?
• Were there structural upgrades?
• Is the durability the same?
• What was the mix ratio used?
Let me give you a real-life example:
I’m currently working on a project in an area where 9-inch blocks sell for ₦850. But when I checked, the quality was far below standard. I had to source higher-strength blocks at ₦1,050. Multiply the difference by 5,000 blocks ,you do the math.
Still in that area:
• Their soft sand is not usable for casting. It’s what Lagos people call Dargolu.
• I had to import stone dust and granite for casting to meet proper strength.
• Their gravel? Dirty and inconsistent. I couldn’t risk structural failure.
• I added columns throughout and chained the external walls for proper load transfer and integrity.
What about:
• PPR pipes for plumbing standard, but costly.
• High-quality tiles, lighting, and fittings :not the cheap versions that fail within 6 months.
All these don’t show immediately, but give it 1–2 years and the real cost in terms of maintenance and repairs will surface.
Unfortunately, no one comes back to post about that.
So when people say:
“That contractor was too expensive. I got it cheaper elsewhere…”
Ask them:
• What were the original specs?
• What did they settle for?
• And most importantly , what did they actually get?
You can’t get a ₦30 million project for ₦15 million without cutting corners, using substandard materials, going against professional advice and settling for less.
Behind every failed building , there is someone who go against professional advice , seltle for sub standard material and love cuttings comer to get it cheaper .
Good work costs money. Quality is not cheap.
Profit and overhead margins for professionals range from 10–25%.
Right now, many contractors are going as low as 10% just to stay competitive.
So when someone says, “I found it cheaper,” ask them to provide:
• The Bill of Quantities (BOQ)
• The materials used
• The specifications followed
• And the actual results
We all know you can’t compare a ₦900,000 Turkish security door with a ₦200,000 Chinese version. The look may be similar, but the quality? Nowhere close.
Durability has value.
Good engineering has value.
And real construction professionals should not be painted with the same brush as quacks.
Once you hear someone saying, “I spent less without using a construction engineer,” ask them:
What substandard method did they apply?
An Italian shoe of ₦350k is not on the same level as a ₦150k Chinese shoe , we all know the difference.
Taking a broken bone to an orthopedic surgeon costs more than going to a roadside quack.
One will treat you for now and the future.
The other? May lead to amputation.
Be aware. Don’t let anyone mislead you.
... ✍️ 🩵 💚 💜 🤎 🩷 🖤 🤎 💛 🌸 💜
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