Today I'll love to share with you my encounters with Traffic Hawkers, which is one of the most common ways people sold their goods in Nigeria to make ends meet. Hawking is a small scale retail means of selling goods either through pushing carts or carrying the goods on the head(which is more common), and they're commonly refer to as hawkers.
Hawkers are mostly found on the street, at the middle of the road when there is gridlock, at bus, train and other means of transportation terminals.
While traveling from Lagos down to Ilorin after the festive vacation, I encountered many of them at the bus terminal, and one of the good thing about them is that;
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They bring the goods to you(instead of going to the market, they bring it right to your doorstep or car windows).
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They sell what met your need at that point in time, most times during Lagos gridlock, your may spent not less than an hour on the same spot in your car, with tense heat via the weather, feeling famished and tasty, and then like an answered prayers, you'll see hawkers approaching your vehicle windows with waters, soda and different snacks.
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They remind you of the need to buy at least something for those at home (although this may sound like a strategy to sell their goods, but it also serve as a reminder to get things for your kids, spouse, or friends).
So to conclude the good aspect of Hawkers, I'll end it with the reason why you should patronise them. They are a very hardworking hustlers who are just trying to survive, make ends meet and meet the needs of their family, unlike the beggars who also flood everywhere the hawkers are, begging for alms(am not saying we shouldn't help the beggars but there are some among them who're fully fit, but prefer to beg than hustle).
In the image below, this particular hawker in red polo pleaded with me to buy her goods, but I have no use for it, plus the fact that it as no expiring details, but after several pleading, I decided to give her a N500 ($1) note to support her business, and she was so excited and insisted I take some of her goods, then I open up to her that I would have love to have them but I don't know if it as expired or when it will expire, and instead of relenting, she brought a pepsi for me from another Hawker from the money I have her, just to show how much she appriciated my support. I was touch and move to tears by these act of hers.
So before I bring an end to my letter to @dswigle and the Market Friday community at large to an end, I'll like to share some down side of Traffic hawking and other means of Hawking you should take note of. And they are;
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Some sell expired product (so you should make sure you thoroughly check the expiring date of goods before purchasing them).
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Some can run away with your change(since you're inside a moving vehicle and they're running after you to sell there product,(some might decide not to give you your cash change after paying them) so my advice is that you collect the goods and collect your change before paying.(although I've met several honest once, who chase the moving vehicle just to make sure they return your extra money back to you).
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It's could lead to their death or being hit by a moving vehicle.(traffic hawking is a very dangerous act, cause they run their trade in the middle of the road and they could be victim of hit and run case).
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The last one I'll love to chip in and hope to see parents and guardians desist from his child hawking (I know we wanna survive but these children deserve to be in school, and be educated just like every other kids). My advice is that if you can't afford to take care of a child then there's no need bring such child to this world to suffer. Below are some images of a young boy and girl working as a hawker
Feel free to share your thoughts about traffic hawking and other forms of hawking in the comments section, and are there Hawkers is your nation as well?
THANKS FOR TAKING OUT TIME TO GO THROUGH MY BLOG POST, I HOPE YOU'VE HAD A GREAT VIEW, AND LEARN ONE OR TWO NEW STUFF? HAVE A BLESSED DAY AHEAD.
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