Nigerias Growing 'Industry' of Street Merchants
From Abeokuta to Lagos, to Ibadan, particularly Iwo Road (a connecting road in and out of South Western Nigeria), bodies ridden with serious health pathologies and ailments--some with jaw-breaking nomenclatures--which should be restricted to a health asylum or facility, are displayed in public space like wares to court the sympathies of the public. At motor parks, men and women with such disturbing ailments compete with one another by displaying and auctioning them for sympathies and consequently monetary gains. You dole out a small amount of money to one and others besiege you in droves.

That was not the case in the 1990s. The industry was largely dominated arguably by Northerners, particularly blind women, whom, we are told, are victims of violent sandy wind in Northern Nigeria. In fact, I grew accustomed to seeing them that I learnt from my father to tell them Allah ye ba mu sa'a (which can be translated to mean God will provide) when there is nothing to give them. However, the industry has undergone a meteoric transformation such that it has accommodated the aged, the crippled, the maimed, able-bodied, self-acclaimed representatives of some unknown and unregistered motherless children homes, the deaf and dumb, iya osun (adherents of the Osun goddess), among other industry shakers. Interestingly, it has attracted foreigners too!

An industry player, a man in his thirties, whose head should be the primary concern of the plastic surgeon--obviously his scalp narrowly survived an inferno--approached a bus enroute Oshodi in Lagos and plugged his pathetic concerns with sonorous songs, and prayers on the commuters eagerly heading to different destinations. Like an obligation for which the commuters have been mandated, zips of purses and handbags began screeching, and hands dipped and dug into pockets. In no time, different small denominations converged on his hands.

In the industry are impoverished women who display their wards for public concern. It is not uncommon to see those with a set of twins. Arguably such children are consequences of an uncurbed sexual appetite and uncontrolled birth. Once these consequences are obvious, the commonwealth of commuters can be depended on to raise the kids and sustain the family.

A number of the industry players are pushed and hawked in wheel barrows, wheel chairs or carts. Their sector of the industry is, however, laden with some challenges. Some of which have been featured in some Nigerian dailies. Chief among these challenges is the claim that those who push them around milk them of the proceeds made. Such is the irony! Their vulnerabilities are exploited by the able-bodied men and women responsible for their mobility. Little wonder these able-bodied individuals go about pushing them diligently in temperatures sometimes exceeding 36℃!

There are those who have specific locations near markets and religious centres. There are also some with tentative locations such as long traffic congestion. The industry players in Ile-Ife, Osun State Nigeria, are largely Northerners but they are shrewd and innovative with their proceeds. After the day's business, they neatly arrange the money made in different denominations awaiting their patrons. These are mostly cab drivers and commercial motorcyclists who need small naira notes to ease transactions with commuters; and church goers who need small naira denominations for the many thanksgiving and special thanksgiving offerings on first and last Sundays of the month, and special anniversaries. They have perfected the art of profiting from this transaction, what with the administrating chairman. Depending on the amount involved, ten or twenty percent interest is charged. Such is the innovation the industry has witnessed.

Then there are the elderly ones, whose involvement in the industry is only recent. They suffer neglect from their children who, at the death of these elderly ones, expend money extravagantly on their funeral rites. These largely trade prayers for money. Their trade is often patronized because of the traditional belief that prayers from the elderly are very potent. Appealing to this sentiment, they unleash prayers--the kind Nigerians love--upon their patrons. The torrent of the prayers is barely survived. At the end, it is omo mi fun mi ni ikan kin fi jeun (My child, give me some money to get a meal). Of course that is the essence of the prayers--to get something to sustain body and soul.

In this industry are a small group of stakeholders who always accost passers-by with a single plea--they are stranded and need transport fare. Also in this category are those who always claim they have indisposed or bedridden relatives in the hospital. Their port of call is usually religious centers, where donations are called for them. Religious adherents that Nigerians are, they see such call for donations as merely humanitarian. Tertiary institutions of learning are equally their targets.

Interestingly, the unprecedented growth of the industry has attracted foreigners from neighbouring countries like Niger Republic. They are mostly seen in Ibadan, West Africa's largest city. They have perfected the art by using their children to hawk favour in return for money. Some of these kids are desperate, stubborn, and parasitic in their quest. They latch on to the clothes of passers-by who are adamant to part with at least a paltry sum. Some of them wouldn't leave their victim(s) until they are threatened. One adamant victim had said to one of them, I've got a gun on me before he was let go. To say some of these kids would have been victims of ritual killers or rapists is to say the least. That is just one of the hazards of this growing industry.

The boom being witnessed in the industry may not eclipse any time soon because Nigerians (the stakeholders in this industry included) have yet to receive the delivery of the promised change that the ruling party promised. And with some successes that the industry have reportedly afforded the stakeholders: some being able to keep four wives from the proceeds; build a house; afford daily necessities, etc., it may have come to stay.

I wish this could be moved to the main page by the mods.
our leaders are insensitive bro.
Excellent writeup Odu's. one love from Oloo.

��� nice writeup Sir...