A young Nigerian mechanic, Abudarazak Ayinde, has shared his journey from what he described as “slavish” labour under a Chinese company, to self-reliance and modest success on the dusty edges of the deplorable Benin bypass in Edo State.

Having left his hometown of Ilorin in Kwara State over a year ago, the mechanic, who’s in his early 30s, now works under an Igala man, Mr. Kareem Usman, who is proficient in Yoruba language, at a roadside workshop near IronC Junction, in the Utesi area of Benin bypass. It was at this venue that Saturday Tribune, who had a vehicle breakdown due to the deplorable road, engaged him in a chat.

“When I arrived a year ago, I worked at a company where polish used for tiles is manufactured,” he recalled. “It’s a Chinese company. They know how to overuse their workers.”

He described gruelling work conditions, citing a complete absence of rest days. “At the Chinese company, we work Monday to Monday. No off or rest day. We work from 7:00a.m. to 7:00p.m. weekdays and weekends,” he said. “I endured there for six months before I finally left.”

Despite the exhausting schedule, he said the pay did not reflect the effort. “In spite of the slavish job I was doing with no rest, I was underpaid. And since I have my homework, I decided to leave the company in search of working for myself.”

A native of Gerin Alimi, from the Alore lineage in Ilorin, Abdurazak is the eldest of seven children. “My parents are still alive,” he said. “I came with my newly married wife and we have a son. We came to Benin through my sister-in-law.”

Now working as a “join-man” under Mr Usman for the past five months, he has found both relief and reward in returning to his trade. “The mechanic work I’m doing here at IronC Junction of the Benin bypass is far better than the slavish work under the Chinese company,” he said.

According to him, income fluctuates based on customer flow, but good weeks can be rewarding. “In a week on this bypass, if business glows, I could make between N100,000 and N150,000.”

But life in Benin is not without its challenges. “The present economic hardship is really affecting mechanics just like other artisans across the country. For instance, prices of foodstuff change arbitrarily from time to time,” he explained. “Communities around Benin bypass are worse when it comes to cost of living.”

Still, he has no regrets about relocating. “Though Kwara is okay, I’m not regretting relocating here. My colleague here is learning from me while I’m also learning from him.”

He also offered a direct appeal to President Bola Tinubu. “If I have access to Tinubu, I’ll ask him to help we mechanics to ensure the cost of vehicles and vehicle parts comes down. He should also give us soft loans like he did university students and market women.”

Much of the work they do on the expressway, he said, is the result of Nigeria’s failing road infrastructure. “Most of the things we repair in the vehicles of travellers and transporters on this bypass road are caused by bad roads. We usually work on the wheels of vehicles caused by the deplorable roads,” he lamented. “The Federal Government should fix the Benin bypass.”

Security remains a concern in the area. “We have northerners everywhere,” he said, referring to a group of migrant workers. “Some of them, who sleep in shanties behind and around our workshop, provide security for our vehicles and tools. However, we have no police station around here. No police presence.”

The lack of basic infrastructure is also glaring. “As per power, no light except at Utesi community.”

Despite the hardship, he remains hopeful. “Mechanic work has given me a new chance. I may not have plenty, but I have my freedom.” (Saturday Tribune, but headline rejigged)