New Face Of Ikoku Auto-Parts Market: The Pains, Gains

As one approaches the popular Ikoku junction by Azikiwe Street in Mile Two Diobu, the new flyover crisscrosses the eyes. But underneath the new flyover still under construction are pockets of people standing on both sides of the road seeking for brisk business- they are the motor spare parts dealers.
Since after they were relocated from their stores and shops sometime last year, the motor and spare parts dealers at Ikoku area are now common sights around the area, as they hang along the road waiting for customers.
They cluster in pockets of five to 10 persons, chatting and sprinting to meet any upcoming vehicle near the adjoining streets of Adelabu, Emole, Okereke, Nwachukwu up to Echue Streets along Ikwerre Road.
One of the motor spare parts dealers, Chibuzor Isaac told The Metro Tide that since after they were removed from their former area at Ikoku, many of them have resorted to survival tactics of standing along the road to wait for customers.
Isaac said, “It has not been easy with business since we were given quit notice. Many of our customers could not locate us again, so we hang on the road to survive.”
He narrated the ordeal of many of his fellow motor spare parts dealers, “Sometimes you stay here all through without a customer”.
In the wake of the urban renewal plans and acquisition of some buildings by investors along the Ikoku area, most of the spare parts dealers lost their goods.\
Isaac said, “Some had to send their families back to the village as a way of survival”.
The Tide Metro learnt that the old buildings acquired by investors were owned by different families and hence, many of the spare parts dealers who had paid rent for shops had to look for new places to get shops, unfortunately, it did not take long when the final quit notice was given by the State Government as the State Executive Council gave approval for a new flyover at the area.
Kingsley Amadi, who was affected by the relocation told The Metro Tide that it was difficult to find his feet initially.” Ikoku has been the heart of motor spare parts business for almost 50 years, “he said.
Amadi said he now hangs in other shops since he could not afford money to rent a new shop. For him, squatting with another businessman is not easy, “As I talk to you now, my goods are scattered. It is difficult to get daily bread and to send money home to my wife and children “.
He disclosed that many of them have to do joint renting of shops to keep business afloat.
The experience of Onyekachi Nnabugwo is quite interesting. He told Metro Tide that he moved thrice. “Initially when our landlord sold his property, I had to look for another shop in Azikiwe. While at Azikiwe for three months, we were asked to leave for the new flyover and the shop was marked for demolition.”
Nnabugwo now stays in one small plaza in School Road, few metres from Azikiwe Street. “I am trying to balance,” he said smiling, but all thanks to God”.
Nnabugwo lamented that he had lost many of his customers, “Many of them do not know I am here, and I do not have their contacts.”
Just few shops from Nnabugwo’s is another popular gear box and motor parts dealer, whose name is Friday Phillip, (aka Fryo). His shop which serves as a workshop is busier than most others.
He said, “We never believed that things will be like this, but we thank God we are surviving.”
Phillip said the relocation “brought some good sides as well, Yes, many of us lost customers, we have also gained customers.”
He urged his fellow motor spare parts dealers to keep on persisting, “ we all need to cope,” he advised.
At Owhonda Street, off School Road, business seems to be moving for the generator and spare parts dealers and repairs. One of such is Okereke Daniel, who said “here is congested because many of our brothers from Ikoku came to join us here”.
Since Ikoku Spare Parts Market was removed, the adjoining streets from Ohonda, Ihute, Odunze and Dickson Streets are much busier and congested.
The axis stretching to Mile 3 area is now a beehive of activities. According to Okereke, shop rents have gone up. “Before the demolition, you can rent a shop for N100,000, but now it is from N200, 000.”
As shop owners make brisk money from the relocation, many spare parts dealers have relocated as far as Ada George, Aba Road while some have moved into streets in Mile 2, Diobu.
“The new trend now in order to survive is through phone,” said Okereke. You have to build new customers by keeping their contacts. I will urge my fellow businessmen to learn to survive.”
Nnabugwo is also optimistic,” there is no need of giving up, a man can fall seven times and also rise seven times”.
The motor spare parts dealer urged government to provide a permanent site for them, so as to reduce their hardship.
One elderly spare parts dealer, who begged not to be mentioned, insisted that one way to reduce their pains is to provide them a permanent site; “We thought government will give us a place to relocate to, but till now nothing is being done”.
Even amid the pains, new businesses are sprouting up: restaurants, drinking bars and bet shops are exploiting the situation.
Moving from Azikiwe to Ikoku is now smooth as the new flyover is gradually taking shape to remove the once bottlenecks that spare parts dealers were known to cause traffic jams.
It is believed that once the bridge is completed, life and business will take a strong footing within the popular motor spare parts district of Port Harcourt.

By: Kevin Nengia