The economic downturn in Nigeria is taking a heavy toll on various sectors, but perhaps none feel it more acutely than the mechanics and spare parts dealers in Sokoto State. At Mechanic Village, where the clatter of tools once signalled bustling activity, the mood is now sombre as rising costs threaten to dismantle livelihoods.
The Mechanics are facing severe challenges as the rising cost of living affects their work, with customers struggling to afford spare parts and labour fees. During a visit to the Mechanic Village in Sokoto metropolis, ASHENEWS spoke with mechanics and spare parts dealers about how they are coping with the economic downturn.
The Mechanics’ plight
Mr. Friday Lucky, a seasoned mechanic at Mechanic Village, recalls better days when spare parts were affordable, and work was steady. Today, however, he finds himself grappling with a new reality. “Spare parts have become so expensive that customers often prefer to buy them directly from the dealers. It delays my work and wastes my time, especially when they don’t believe the prices I quote,” he explained, frustration evident in his voice.
Lucky, who deals mostly with the legs, engines and painting of all types of cars said some customers end up not collecting their vehicles when it is repaired because they often do not have the budgeted amount for the car when it was brought in.
“We only work Monday to Saturday and don’t work on Sundays. Everything is more expensive now, including spare parts, which cost more than last year. I work on car legs, engines, wiring, panel beating, and painting of all types of cars. It usually takes me two to three hours to complete the repair of the legs of a car, but now, it takes up to 24 hours because some customers delay paying for or getting the spare parts,” he said.
Lucky’s sentiments are echoed by many others in the village. The rising cost of living has not only increased the price of spare parts but has also made it difficult for customers to afford essential car repairs.
The head of the Mechanic Village, Mr. Solomon Okwenne, expressed concern over the impact of rising costs on both his business and family. He noted that fuel price hikes have driven up the cost of everything, from food to spare parts. “We used to work on 10 to 12 cars daily, but now we only handle 2 to 3. The village used to be full of cars that there was usually no space to park; now, it is so empty you could play football here,” he lamented.
Okwenne also shared the personal impact of the economic challenges on his family. “I used to spend N2,000 on food; now it is more than N7,000. On Sundays, I give my wife N15,000 to cook, and sometimes it is still not enough. With seven children, the rising costs are overwhelming and the amount I give to her is not enough.
“The current situation is bad for my business and my family. If things continue like this, many people will starve because prices have doubled in the last two years. Our main problem is fuel. When fuel prices go up, everything else becomes more expensive.
“If fuel prices go down, everything becomes cheaper because everyone needs fuel for their business. Farmers, car owners, and bike riders all need fuel. You can buy something for N1,000 today, and tomorrow it might cost N10,000. Fuel is our major challenge,” he said.
Economic impact on spare parts dealers
The situation is equally dire for spare parts dealers like Mr Ezeh Ngk, the owner of NGK Motors Spare Parts in Mechanic Village, who has seen transportation costs for his supplies double over the past year. “I used to pay N800,000 to transport spare parts from Lagos to Sokoto or from Onitsha to Sokoto; now it costs N1,600,000. The prices of spare parts have skyrocketed, and it is scaring customers away. But some mechanics are not surprised when I tell them the new prices because they know how expensive everything is now” he said.
Ngk’s experience highlights a broader issue—people are choosing to sell their cars as scrap rather than bear the cost of maintaining them. “A car engine that used to cost N600,000 now costs N1,500,000. Many can’t afford the repairs, so they just park their cars and forget about them,” he added.
Personal struggles amidst the economic crisis
For mechanics like Mr. Sherif Yoled, the economic downturn has had a devastating effect. Once able to earn a decent living, he now finds himself struggling to make ends meet. “There were days when I made good money from this garage, but now I sometimes have to beg for food. Before, N200 could buy something to eat but now, it can’t. Work is scarce, and I have four children at home who need to be fed.
“If a spare part costs N10,000 today, it might cost N25,000 tomorrow. When I tell my customers the price, some drive home and park their cars because they cannot afford it. Those who can afford it often pay for the spare parts but owe me for the labour.
“I tell them it is not my fault; it’s the government’s fault. We are really struggling here. Sometimes, we sit all day without seeing a single car to work on. Everything in the garage is expensive now, and there is no work. I have four children at home, so any money I get goes straight to feeding them,” he said.
The soaring prices of essential car components, from gaskets to brake pads, have added to the challenges faced by these mechanics. Mr. Chinonsom Chukwuemeka, another parts dealer, outlined the steep increases in prices over the past year.
“Everything has become so expensive. We have no choice but to pass these costs onto our customers, but it’s driving them away,” he said.
Chukwuemeka said he usually buys two zr top gaskets for N1,500 before but now he buys them for N2,300 and sells them for N2,500, “one zr top gasket was N1,200 before but now it is N1,800 and I sell them for N2,000.
Brake pads were N2,500 before but now they are N3,500 and I sell them for N4,000, fuel pumps were N3,000 before but now its N4,800 and I sell for N5,500, shoe brakes were N4,000 before, now they are N7000 and I sell them for N8,500 or N9,000 sometimes.”
According to the Spare Parts Dealer, stabilizer linkages were sold for N3,000 before but now, it is brought for N4,500 and sold for N5,000, and plugs were sold for N550 before but now, they are N850 and sold for N1,000. Blue glue was sold for N550 before but now, they are N850 and sold for N1,000 while ball joint was sold for N3,000 each ( the left and the right ) before but now, they are N4,000 and sold for N5000.
Oil seals were sold for N100 a piece, but now brought for N200 per piece and sold for N350 per piece. The increase, he said has also reflected with the belt and others.
A Village in crisis
Mechanic Village, once a thriving hub of activity, now stands as a testament to the economic struggles gripping the nation. The clamour of tools has quieted, replaced by the murmurs of mechanics and dealers lamenting the uncertain future. If the economic situation does not improve, many fear that their businesses—and the livelihoods of those who depend on them—will not survive.
As the cost of living continues to rise, the mechanics and spare parts dealers of Sokoto State are left to navigate an increasingly difficult landscape. Their stories serve as a stark reminder of the human impact of economic instability and the urgent need for solutions that can alleviate their struggles.
