.My Neighborhood Watch #82 - Reporting Events Around us

As a Nigerian man trying to manage costs and get things done, my friend recently decided to interlock the front of my house. What started as a simple project quickly turned into an experience he will never forget. Let me tell you what happened.

It all began when he went looking for a bricklayer. After asking around, someone recommended a man named Musa. Musa arrived promptly, tape measure in hand, and we walked around the space he wanted to interlock. The man seemed confident and knowledgeable, which gave my friend, Sammy some peace of mind.

When it was time to discuss the price, Musa mentioned that labor would cost ₦50,000. He explained that it was the standard rate for the size of my project, and Sammy agreed. However, that wasn’t the end of the expenses. Musa told me Sammy needed to provide sand and cement for the work. Sammy nodded casually, thinking it wouldn’t be much trouble to arrange. Little did he know, the real drama was about to begin.

Sammy immediately started making calls to get sand. The first person Sammy scalled, a man I’ll call Baba Tunde, was frustratingly unhelpful. When He asked him if he had sand available, the man dodged the question. “Ehn… you know sand is not something you rush to sell. Let me see if I can find something for you,” he said vaguely. Sammy was confused. Does he sell sand or not? I pressed him further, and he started mumbling about how his last delivery was delayed because of “road issues.” It was clear the man didn’t have sand, but for some reason, he didn’t want to admit it.

Frustrated, Sammy called another supplier, Mr. Okeke. Thankfully, Mr. Okeke was straightforward. He told me he had sand and even quoted a price of ₦85,000 per trip. By this point, Sammy didn’t even care if it was slightly overpriced—He just wanted to get things moving. With the materials delivered, Musa started his work the next day. Sammy stood outside watching as he began mixing sand, cement, and water to create the concrete base for the interlocking tiles.

Then Musa said something; “Oga, you fit help small?” At first, Sammy hesitated. But he didn’t want to seem lazy, so he picked up a shovel and started helping him mix. The first thing he noticed was how heavy the mixture was. Every time he lifted the shovel, his muscles screamed in protest. Then there was the sand—it got everywhere. His hands, clothes, even face. It wasn’t long before he started regretting my decision of helping the man

“Oga, you dey okay?” Musa asked, clearly amused as he watched me struggle.. After what felt like hours (but was probably just 20 minutes), Musa took over again, and Sammy gladly stepped aside.

Finally, after a long day of hard work, the interlocking tiles were in place. chose red and grey colors, and I have to admit, the combination looked fantastic. The vibrant red and subtle grey blended perfectly, giving the space a clean, modern look.

As he stood back and admired the finished work, he felt a sense of accomplishment—not just because the project was done, but because he had learned a lot along the way.

Lessons Learned

1. Always confirm your materials early.

1. Be ready for unexpected challenges.

1. Leave the heavy lifting to the professionals—unless you enjoy getting dirty!

Looking back, it was a stressful but rewarding experience. And now, every time I walk past that interlocked space, I smile, remembering the drama, the hard work, and yes, even the sand that refused to stay off my clothes.

If you’re planning a similar project, my advice is simple: budget well, find a reliable supplier, and don’t be afraid to get a little dirty—but only if you’re ready for it!

Cc,
@xkool24