Cost of living: Mechanics, artisans decry low patronage in Jos

As Nigerians continue to battle the high cost of living in the country, mechanics and artisans in Jos, the Plateau State capital, are also decrying the impact of the crisis on their trades.

The continuous fall of the naira against the dollar is significantly affecting the purchasing power of Nigerians, putting consumers in a difficult situation as prices of goods and services continue to skyrocket on a daily basis.

According to the mechanics, the constant hike in prices of materials, diesel, and petroleum motor spirit has negatively impacted their services, lamenting that the situation is causing them to lose customers, thereby threatening their means of livelihood.

Chikere Victor, an auto mechanic, said, “The hike in price of materials for the work is causing us to lose our capital and, in many cases, customers don’t agree with our charges because they assume that we are charging them higher. Once we tell them the price, they leave.’’

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Auwal Audu, another auto mechanic, while narrating the situation, said, “Fixing cars is our main source of livelihood. We provide services, but the recent high cost of living is significantly impacting our business because we are no longer having customers. The few motorists who manage to come to us often expect us to work for them on credit. As a result, we can no longer afford to provide food for our families.

Abdullahi Ibrahim, an artisan, also said, “The high cost of living is threatening our jobs. If this continues, we are likely to be pushed out of business because people are now struggling to afford necessities like food, rather than buying doors or windows to build houses. In some cases, when we agree to work for a certain amount, by the time we purchase materials for the job, the prices have already increased, resulting in losses for us. It is a very challenging situation.”