Isopako , a market that stock mainly plank and building materials had some of the traders speak with The Nation shopping blaming the low sale situation in the market on the poor state of the country’s economy. A trader Mr Babajide Owolabi is a nail seller, he said, “we are only here because we want to leave our homes in the morning and go to our places of work, we are actually not making sales. This democracy is not for everybody it is only meant for the rich people. People are not building houses any more, they are only renovating because of the economic situation we are presently facing in this country.”
Mrs. Adejoke Shuaibu is a paint seller who thanked God for the peaceful state of the market. Though we are not making sales as at now, we only come here so that we will have something to eat at the end of the day, no matter how little, market is not really moving.” She said.
The market which stocks mainly building materials, such as Planks, Pans, Nails, Wire, top-board, Pecks, and Flatmetals also have them in various prices, names, quality and functions.
The planks have names like; Otara, Maoganic, Iroko, Akala, Mazonia, Ipin, Poroporo, Omosida, Ita, Sanmi, Osara, Obeche, and many more. They all come in different prices, depending on their measurement. For Otara wood its measurement are 1x12by 12 and it cost N1, 300; 2x2by 12 cost N300; 2x3by 12 cost N4, 50; 2×12 by12 cost N1, 800 . Iroko wood has 1×12 by 12 cost N1, 500; 2×12 by 12 cost N2, 200. Mahogany 1×12 by 12 costs N2, 100; 2 by 7 feet cost N1, 500; 2×2 by 12 costs N3, 200.
Ipin, Obeche, Otako, and Omosida have the same price range depending on the inches 1×12 by 12 costs 1,100; 2×12 by 12 costs N1, 500; 3×8 by 12 cost N1, 600. The cheapest are Sanmi, and Arere with sizes like 1×12 by 12 costs N900; 2x12by 12 costs N1, 300; 2x3by 12 costs N300.
Plywood has different sizes and prices with two types, the imported and local ones. For the imported type 1\8 inches cost N300; ½ cost N1, 500; half inch cost N2, 900; and 3/ 4 costs N4, 500. For the local one 1/ 8 cost N250; 1 /2 cost N1, 400; half inch cost N2,800; and 3 / 4 cost N4,400.
Pans, peck and flat metals are bought by bundles and piece. Bundles of pans cost N10, 000 containing 20piece; a piece cost N500. Flat metals cost N2,000 per bundle.
The market also stock paints of various colours, types and prices. We have Kaklus, Fine Coats, Jolak, Radiant, Daplux , and Soliguard. These paints, apart from Care and Soliguard which are the more expensive ones because they are imported and only come in glossy and packed in 4 litre. The rest of the paints have three variations such as emulsion, texcoat, and gloss mix. All these have their different prices. 20 litres of any brand of paint that is glossy cost N2, 500: Texcoat cost N4,000: Emulsion cost N2, 600. Four litres of glossy cost N500: Texcoat cost N1,000: Emulsion cost N500, 1 litre its cost N300.Paint comes in three packs which are in 20, 4, and 1 litre. The amount of litres to purchase should depend on the individual who is buying.
Paint has different colours but has some special ones which are deep colours and more expensive, they come in 4 litre packs and sold for N3,100. They are orange, purple, silver and gold.
Prices of nails vary too, they come in two bags, the 50kg which cost N5,000, and 25kg which cost N2, 500. For those who want to buy small quantity, N100 worth is available.
Top-Board costs N70 for 200gm, N1, 500 goes for 250gm, 500kg is sold for N250, 1kg cost N400, 2kg cost N700, and 5kg cost N1, 200. All the aforementioned can be found at the Isopako plank market.
