1999 to 2000 Faisal Mirza - Nigeria Work Experience

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.

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-Wuse Market

Transport

Garages

Transport

Go Slows

Okada, Going, Express, Machine

Typical Houses

Akure Downtown 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

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

Lagos Office-10 Years Ago

The Lagos Fleet

Lagos Residence

Abuja-Manager’s Office

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

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

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.

1999 to 2000 Faisal Mirza - Nigeria Work Experience

Career

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