By Uju james and Rachael Anyaso
Kubwa village market was he epicenter of buying and selling in Abuja’s suburb, prior to its demolition a year ago. Many displaced traders now showcase their wares by the roadside near the demolished market, especially around the NYSC camp. This has however resulted to heavy traffic on that axis.
Many traders, customers and residents are struggling to recover from the effect of the exercise, as they are either scampering for shelter or any available space to do business. Some have termed it ‘a November to remember’.
The relocation, as expected, has brought many challenges. Most of the traders have relocated to Arab Road and Kubwa express. There, the Daily Sun met some shop owners who were affected by the exercise and sort to know how they were coping with the new location.
Rejoice, a 200 level student of University of Abuja from Imo state has been into selling of footwears and bags for more than four years. She normally displays her goods around Gwagwalada and Begger Camp. In the past, she was staying opposite the mosque in Kubwa channel 8, before relocating to her current place.
She our correspondents that “my elder sister just passed out from youth service and since then she couldn’t get any Job. So, she had to join me in the business rather than being idle. I support my dad and my mum with the money from my business even though they have a business of their own.
“As of last three months, I encountered kidnappers also called “one chance” around Kaduna road on my way to the market to buy goods that I sell. They tied my hands and legs and robbed me of everything I had. I was held captive around 7am and released a day later. Before I was released, they collected my ATM card and went straight to the bank and withdrew all my money I had in my account.
“I was just lucky that my life was spared, without wasting time I reported the issue to the police but unfortunately they demanded for little money before they could take up the issue. I had to withdraw the case because I had nothing on me at that time.
“Secondly, I went to my bank to make complaints about my account. Immediately, I was shown my account statement. I found out that huge amount was withdrawn and my account was empty. There was nothing I could do about it because it was too late. I had to move on and put my past behind me. Unlike before that we normally experienced huge patronage, the case is now different because the competition is high due to the demolished market in Kubwa village. At least, I make up to N20,00 in a day, but now I find it difficult to sell two pairs of shoes.
“Task force officials come here everyday. We even had tables that we normally placed our goods on, but task force officials recently destroyed them. Before, we normally came out by 3pm, but they stopped us from selling our goods. That time, we only sold around 5pm. We used to contribute money at the end of every month to settle officials, but even at that, they were not contended.
Fred, a businessman who resides in Kubwa Federal Housing sells female wears and has been in the business for about three and half years after he completed his NYSC programme.
“Going by the situation of the country, trying to make ends meet has not been easy, but by the grace of God, I still make little profits,” he said.
He also said that he has been staying in Kubwa village market, but only came out to sell on Sundays. He said every Sunday, he would open between two to three bales (clothes) and after church service, customers would rush to the market to buy.
He also said that he buys his goods in Kaduna and that he normally goes to Karimo market which is usually opened on Tuesdays to pick clothes from major sellers there. He also said that when goods are available, they get it at cheaper rates, but when there is scarcity of goods, the price increases.
Fred added that the main reason why he left Kubwa Village Market was because they demolished the place where he was staying and even the people that occupied shops there were also affected.
“The competition there wasn’t high. It just a normal market setup especially with the sales of female wears dominating other goods and they experienced low patronage from the buyers. Its always a problem because people are complaining that there is no money coupled with the fact that school just resumed and parents are preparing for their children to return to school.
“I am not comfortable with this current location, but since this is the only business I have since there is no job, I have to keep up with the sales rather than engaging myself in crimes. Selling of female wears is the only thing I can do to sustain myself for now,” he added.
His younger brother, Job, is also in the same line of business with him. He plies his trade in Wuse market. Sometimes, he goes to Wuse market in the morning. From 4pm, he comes to Kubwa express to sell his goods.
He added that if they finally complete the shops in Kubwa village, he will move back to that place because selling at the road side has disadvantages attached to it and people don’t always value what you sell because hey think that is only when you are in shops that one sells good things.
“One major challenge about business is capital. When you have low capital to do your business, it won’t be easy and the only challenge i am facing now is low capital since there is no money and there is no patronage from the customers. There is no way you will make the normal sales you used to make in a day.
“Looking at the situation of the country, you keep spending and when the expenditure is higher than the income, it becomes a big threat to you. One must have a break down of every sale so as to know whether its profitable.”