Hiring a contractor is one of the biggest financial decisions most people and organisations make. In Nigeria, as anywhere, the safest approach is simple: do not take claims on trust, check them. This guide sets out the checks to make before you sign a construction contract, who can confirm each one, and what to do if something does not add up.
Why Verification Matters
A contractor who is properly registered, experienced and financially sound protects you in many ways: the work is more likely to be finished to specification, safety standards are more likely to be met, and you have recourse if something goes wrong. A contractor who is not can leave you with unfinished work, defects, unpaid suppliers and little legal protection. Taking an hour to verify is far cheaper than paying twice for the same building.
Step 1: Confirm the Company Exists
Every company operating in Nigeria should be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Ask for the company's registration number (the RC number) and the certificate of incorporation, then check the details against the CAC public search. Confirm that the registered name matches the name on the quotation and contract, and note the registered address and the directors listed.
Also confirm the company has a real place of business. Visit the office if you can, check that the address on its documents matches the one it gives you, and call the phone numbers listed. A genuine contractor will have no difficulty meeting you.
Step 2: Check Professional Registration
Construction and engineering are regulated professions in Nigeria, and the relevant bodies keep registers of their members:
- COREN: the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria registers engineers and engineering firms.
- CORBON: the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria registers builders and building contractors.
- ARCON: the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria registers architects.
- QSRBN: the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria registers quantity surveyors.
- NIOB: the Nigerian Institute of Building is a professional body for builders and construction professionals.
Ask which professionals will lead your project, and ask for their registration details. Where a register is public, check it directly rather than relying on a photocopy.
Step 3: Ask for Compliance Documents
Established contractors, especially those that work for government and corporate clients, can usually produce current compliance documents. These commonly include:
- A tax clearance certificate and tax identification number
- Pension compliance documentation
- Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) compliance certificates
- For government work, registration on the relevant procurement or contractor registration systems
Requirements differ depending on the client and the type of work, so ask which documents are relevant to your project. The point is to see that the company keeps its paperwork in order.
Step 4: Verify the Track Record
A portfolio is easy to assemble and harder to prove. Ask for a list of completed projects of a similar size and type, with the client's name, location, value and completion date. Then:
- Contact at least two or three of the clients and ask about quality, timing, communication and how problems were handled
- Visit completed projects in person if possible, and look at the finish, the detailing and how the building has aged
- Check that the photographs and descriptions in the portfolio match what you see
- Ask which parts of each project the contractor delivered itself, and which were done by partners or subcontractors, so you understand who actually did the work
Step 5: Understand the Team and the Equipment
Ask who will manage your site, what experience that person has, and how many of the workers are the contractor's own. Ask what equipment the company owns. A contractor with its own excavators, loaders, graders, mixers and trucks can start quickly and control the programme; one that must hire everything depends on others. Pekuric, for example, operates its own fleet of more than 20 units of plant and equipment, which is described on our Our Company page.
Step 6: Review Insurance, Safety and Contract Terms
Ask what insurance the contractor carries for workers, for the works and for third parties, and ask for proof. Ask about its safety policy and incident record. Then read the contract carefully: it should clearly state the scope, the price and how it can change, the payment schedule tied to progress, the programme, the defects liability period and how disputes will be resolved. If anything is unclear, ask for it to be written down. A lawyer's review is worthwhile for large projects.
What Good Contractors Do Differently
Reputable contractors welcome questions and checks. They provide documents without fuss, introduce you to past clients, explain what is and is not in their quote, and put agreements in writing. They talk openly about risks, such as ground conditions or weather, and how they will manage them. Treat that openness as a sign of confidence in their own work.
Warning Signs
- The company cannot or will not provide its RC number, address or documents
- Registration details do not match the name on the quotation
- No references or completed projects can be verified
- Pressure to pay a large deposit before any work is done
- A price far below every other quote
- A verbal agreement with no written contract
A Quick Checklist
- CAC registration confirmed and name matches
- Office visited and phone numbers tested
- Professional registrations checked with the relevant councils
- Compliance documents seen
- At least two client references contacted
- A similar completed project visited
- Insurance and safety policy confirmed
- Written contract with scope, price, programme and defects period
Work with a Contractor You Can Check
Pekuric Limited was established in 2017 and is based in Benin City, with an office in Abuja, serving clients across Nigeria. We welcome the checks described above. You can see our work on the projects page, read about the company on Our Company, or contact us to ask any question before you decide. For more on choosing a builder, read how to choose the right construction company for your project.
