Name: Mrs Josephine Onokpa
State of Origin: Delta State
Dependants: Four Children
Trade: I sell kerosene and I supplement with hard drinks.
Profit: I was making little profit but since the price of kerosene went up sometime last year, it has been quite difficult. Before, I used to buy a full drum of kerosene but I cannot afford to buy that anymore. I now buy half drum and I don’t really get enough profit from there.
A drum of kerosene I usually bought for N24, 000 is now N55, 000 and the price of the drinks has increased as well. Since this increase, most people have switched to charcoal and few to cooking gas.
To make some gain to plunge back into the business, I have to sell a drum in a week to avoid us spending the capital since this is the only business sustaining my entire family since my husband agent job at the airport is yielding little or nothing. For a while now, I have been the one doing everything from paying the school fees to feeding and house rent.
School fees: It has not been easy footing the bills alone. I have settled the fees of my eldest child who is currently in JSS3 and I have been paying the fees of my other three children in bits.
House rent: It wasn’t easy but gradually, I was able to settle this year’s rent by paying in instalments.
Challenges: Sales have been very low. I hardly sell up to one gallon of kerosene now. Now when customers buy, they buy in smaller quantities. To eat well is another problem but we are dealing with that. Before, we ate thrice daily but it’s now twice, mornings and evenings. All these hardship started last year.
If you want to contact the writer of this story call: +234(0) 803 889 1567, +234(0) 802 223 8495. chinwe.agbeze@business
Chinwe Agbeze
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