By Roland Ekama, Lagos
Sequel to the lull in the informal sector of the automobile industry, Car dealers in some of the section of Berger Market have commenced conversion of imported fairly used vehicles to spare parts and accessories.
This innovation was against the backdrop of low sales of fairly used vehicles otherwise known as ‘Tokunbo’ and also due to lack of spares in the Nigeria markets.
A cross section of dealers who spoke to DAILYFOCUS NEWS ONLINE recently, lamented that some of the vehicles in most of the parks have spent over five years without potential buyers thus the need to dismantle and showcase as spare parts.
According to the Chairman, Sunrise Motor Park Dealers, Pastor Andrew Uzor, car dealership has been unattractive for about five years due to the economy downturn.
Uzor reiterated that demands for spare parts has become relatively high in the market due to the lull in spare parts importation and dealers are taking the advantage to replace the scarcity with some of their old stocks available.
“It is rather unfortunate that we no longer make good sales as we used to because things have changed from bad to worst.
” Since the massive drop in the business I can tell you that some cars are converted to spare parts just for us to survive.
” Most of the dealers here have decided to venture into other businesses because nothing good is coming out of it at the moment.
Asked about the number of car sales weekly ,the Chairman said “Before we use to sell at least seven to ten vehicles but as at today we don’t even sell a car in one month” saying, that will tell how bad things are at the moment.
According to him, the deplorable condition of the Apapa Oshodi Expressway is another factor militating against dealers at Berger Market,noting that with the decay of infrastructure in Nigeria businesses are bound to nosedive.
Asked about the brands of spares in high demand, Uzor noted that vehicle parts manufactured in US and Germany are mostly requested by buyers.
However, Sam Ugochukwu a spare parts dealer at the Trinity Market,further confirmed to our correspondent some parts are uncommon in Nigeria hence the need for the cars dealers to shop for alternative.
Ugochukwu noted that the innovation by the dealers have reduced the scarcity of spare parts in the market adding that there was difficulties sourcing for spares and accessories few years back .
