The plight of Kpadna market women

Located about a kilometre from the Jabi Motor park in Abuja, Kpadna market is a small market in Pana village. With its doors open all round the week, some women have been running different businesses there for over 10 years. From restaurants, to salons, to provision shops.    Mrs Racheal Anu has been running a […]

Located about a kilometre from the Jabi Motor park in Abuja, Kpadna market is a small market in Pana village. With its doors open all round the week, some women have been running different businesses there for over 10 years. From restaurants, to salons, to provision shops.
   Mrs Racheal Anu has been running a salon in Kpadna market for the past 10 years. Though, her salon is situated close to a big plaza with a cosmopolitan hair salon, she reveals that people still patronised her.
“The people around patronise me because of the way I make their hair and how I relate with them. Customers still come despite big salons in the plaza and around us,” she said.
Aja Ifeoma’s mum also has a restaurant in the market. She has assisted her mum to manage the restaurant all her life. “Though there are big and fanciful restaurants around us, our customers appreciate our food and are comfortable eating here. We keep the place clean,” she said.
Also, Mrs Blessing Daniel, a hair stylist has been running her salon in Kpadna village for over 10 years. She said business has been rewarding except for the hike in prices of goods and the competition of retaining customers.
“Majority of my customers are not staying in Kpadna village, they come from the satellite towns to work in  town and patronise me,’’ she said.
Lydia Ubandoma has been patronising Racheal for six years because  she said she paid less making her hair at Kpadna. “I come here to make my hair sometimes because their rates are cheaper. Though, I patronise other big salons to get a different touch, I still feel comfortable washing my hair here because I get satisfied. The shop looks local but I get exactly what I want.”
Lady-A restaurant has been operating for 15 years in Kpadna market and is owned by Madam Amiria. ‘‘Some of the workers of these big hotels and offices around come to eat in my place because the food here is cheaper compared to those big restaurants,” she said.
Though these women’s businesses may be thriving, they face a few challenges.
High taxes  charged by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and other bills are some challenges faced with running a business in a village within a city.
“AMAC comes twice every year to tax us for the environment and sometimes even inspect our food. They have increased their taxes and we have to pay so much. Also, the rent and other bills here are high,” Amiria said.
The rent for shops in Kpadna market ranges from N100,000 to N200,000 yearly. To to pay their rents and bills, the women say they have to increase the prices of their goods and services.
Aja Ifeoma said Abuja Environment Protection also comes from time to time to chase them out of the market. “Sometimes, taskforce come and pack our stoves with food on the fire and ask us to pay fine. The say the area is meant for flowers and interlocks.