KEY POINTS
- Fuel prices which are growing force vehicle repair number decrease.
- Empty workshops are reported every day in mechanics’ workshops, therefore mechanics fail to make ends meet.
- The demands of a government intervention to overturn the economic hardship increase.
High fuel prices are now forcing auto mechanics in Warri, Delta State to lose patronage. On the roads, there are fewer cars, meaning the revenue is dwindling and the cars are getting fewer repairs, say the artisans.
Barely surviving on the fuels cost
Mr. Desmond Ojo, a specialist in Japanese cars, lamented the situation: “The cars used to wait outside my workshop before being repaired.” Today, I don’t see three cars’ in a day.” However, as this precipitous decline has left many workshops almost idle, mechanics have found themselves living hand to mouth.
Similarly, Mr. Ernest Ehigie, another mechanic, described the impact as severe: Presently, good returns cannot be boasted of by any mechanic. “Sometimes I can barely get a car to repair in a day,” I said.
Empty workshops
The mechanics said the drop in demand is down to high fuel prices, which have caused many drivers to switch to public transportation. Mr. Efe Odeya explained: “People park their cars because they don’t have money to buy fuel.” “Then clearly, if cars don’t move, they won’t develop faults.”
Fuel price in Warri is between ₦1,150 ~ ₦1,300 per litre which doesn’t come cheap for most citizens. Mr. Tejiri Friday also appealed to the Federal Government to put in place measures to neutralise the impact of subsidy removal.
“People are suffering. They have been idle for weeks with no work, even on auto painters he said.
Road Mechanics have therefore pegged their hopes on government action to curb the cost of living and revive their trade as they seek improved economic conditions.
