An Interview done on a ladipo market trader ‘’ukonu’’.
The biggest market for auto spare part in lagos, ladipo market also known as ladipo auto spare part situated in mushin local government area of lagos state operating every day of the week except on Sundays and public holidays. this iconic market is notorious for alleged unscrupulous activities such as inability of customers to return spare parts that didn’t function properly after purchase and stealing of parts from a parked vehicle within the market axis on the other hand it has been the centre for social awareness and political campaigns meetings because of the mass population of people in the market. But this didn’t prevent the market from facing an inevitable setback owing to lack of good roads and space around the market, on 30 june 2015 the lagos state government took the initiative to knock down some parts of the market which led to series of crisis within the market. The demolition was part of the decision by the lagos state government to reconstruct the market and enhance vehicular movement within the axis. still the market is yet to drop from its apex level, there is a usual say that if you own a vehicle or motor cycle in lagos and you haven’t being to ladipo market then you are yet to shop for spare parts this is due to the endless range in sufficiency of different car and motor cycle brands spare parts found there, making it able to encompass all its counter parts,it’s no surprise that other spare parts market in lagos look up to ladipo market. However, ladipo market being the foremost market of spare parts in lagos still has most of its occupants and workers virtually living from hand to mouth. Today I observe a typical day of one of its will barrow trader ukonu, ukonu is dark in completion about 5 ft 11,hails from abakiliki ebonyi state married with a daughter, staying with him at the market from 8:00am-6:30pm here were my findings:
8:15am-ukonu arrives at his wheelbarrow spot where he usually padlocks it before he calls it a day from work, goes to where he hide the key and can’t find it, perplexed and deliberating within himself wondering if it was the right corner he goes back to the previous key hiding places and still couldn’t see it, he refuses to do anything else or take his breakfast (which he usually do within 8:00-8:30am after unlocking his wheel barrow) ,he searches tirelessly until he gives in and admits defeat and decides to break the padlock, but wait a minutes there is a better idea.
9:30am-he decides to borrow a spare wheel barrow from a close friend and confidant of his at the market, Oke, at first Oke is very reluctant to do so because of previous experiences where he lent ukonu a wheelbarrow, which he over loaded and ended up bending the rim in the process, oke had to spend 2000 naira fixing it ukonu refunded him just half of the money and bullied him over the rest, they went back and front on the matter but ukonu was the eventual winner of the battle being a more wittier person. Oke ’s own seems to be less efficient and lacks the frequency capacity compared to his own, he had no choice but to ‘’chests’’ it and gets to work immediately.
10:00am-he decides to go to the booka to have his breakfast and orders his usual delicacy rice and stew which he always felt was never cooked to his standard, today wasn’t different, ukonu is not someone to keep to himself, so quickly as usual he lets his opinion out about the meal and gets into a loud argument with the waitress, the banter ends with both party smiling as they usually do daily, this seems to be a mental exercise for him, being in the market for 4 years, he knows it’s always a lost cause.
10:17am- he is back to work
11:41am-he is caught and reprimanded by the thugs at the market after being reported by a fellow hustler for a crime that he’s often guilty of, which is trading by consignment and not remitting the money realised from the goods being sold in time to the owner, but the dispute doesn’t last due to his popularity, he was made to state when he will pay back the balance which he reluctantly did.
1:02am-he finally remembers the particular spot he kept his keys and goes to get it after unlocking it he brags to the rest of the traders at his wing of the market (line) that his sole called spirit told him he will find it, they replied teasing him ‘’your mouth no go kill you” he wasted no time in returning the barrow back and hitting the ground running again, livelier.
6:33pm- he calls it a day padlocking his will barrow and heads for home.
BY PRINCEWILL.U SMART-EZEANI COURTESY NAIRAMETRICS.COM

It is finally here. Ladipo auto parts market is now online on the platform www.autopartz.com.

You can source any auto parts or accessories by contacting the Ladipo suppliers registered on Autopartz.com

You can also locate spare parts easily online without going from store to store

Save yourself the stress and time

www.autopartz.com is Nigeria's premier auto parts online marketplace.

Our intuitive platform will provide you with the right resources to ensure your car is back up and running in no time.

With our high powered search tools, locating spare parts for your vehicle is only a click away.

Autopartz.com = Auto parts marketplace + Web technology

Other major auto parts clusters can also be found here such as Oyingbo, Clegg, Olowu, Nnewi etc.

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You can now enquire of the prices of the auto parts of your choice before visiting the market, hence saving time and stress.

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