My dealings with contractors in Nigeria have left me frustrated — incompetence, dishonesty, cost overruns, abandoned work. When I remember how contractors operate in the U.S., I see clearly how much protection a regulated system gives to developers and buyers.
My dealings with contractors in Nigeria have left me frustrated — incompetence, dishonesty, cost overruns, abandoned work. When I remember how contractors operate in the U.S., I see clearly how much protection a regulated system gives to developers and buyers.
In the United States, contractors must be licensed, bonded, and insured. They operate under strict building codes enforced by independent inspectors. If a contractor abandons a job or delivers substandard work, there are clear legal remedies and financial protections in place.
Nigeria has none of these safeguards. Anyone can call themselves a contractor, and many do. The result is an industry plagued by incompetence at best and outright fraud at worst. I have personally experienced contractors who disappeared with advance payments, delivered work so poor it had to be demolished and redone, and submitted invoices for materials that were never purchased.
Real estate agents present similar challenges. In the U.S., agents must pass examinations, maintain licenses, and adhere to a code of ethics enforced by professional bodies. In Nigeria, the barrier to entry is essentially zero, and the consequences for misconduct are negligible.
The cost of this lack of regulation is borne entirely by developers and property owners. Every project must budget for the near-certainty of cost overruns, delays, and quality issues. This adds a hidden tax to every development, making Nigerian real estate more expensive and less competitive than it should be.
Reform is not optional — it is essential. A licensing system for contractors and agents, backed by meaningful enforcement and penalties, would transform the industry overnight. The talent and ambition exist in Nigeria; what is missing is the framework to channel them productively.