MY MARKETFRIDAY CHALLENGE: Photowalking and Cruising around Port Harcourt ultra large Mega market
Special greetings to all of us in the #marketfriday family led by her royal majesty @dswigle,
But today ? am changing the game, I did love @dswigle to let me handle the wheel as am just so excited to drive us to this ultra large mega market in port Harcourt, River state Nigeria, called oil-mill market, but before we hub in of the bus, please pay attention let me tell you all little about this place, we are going outdoor full time today
The oil mill market has been in existence for over a decades now, the market got it very popular name from old traders, the market was just a place for palm oil dealers who buys and sold palm oil and also refine them by processing the palm fruit and extracting the oil, but over time other traders began to tag along selling other goods in the market to the buyers of the palm oil, and so the market grew over time and spread so wide around the region,
In port Harcourt this is one of the very large popular market that traders from other state in Nigeria come to buy and sale, the market span over the whole area, that is now known by the name oil mill, the market has so many different sections typically you can buy all you so need here, and never get enough, its your money’s talk any were, the locals are friendly in fact they did drag you to buy from them and if you not careful you will out of compassion spend your money on unbudgeted things
The market is always busy 24/7 but the particular day that is very notable all around the state and beyond is on a Friday that’s why I call @dswigle a magician to these effect, you see that, its either it is a coincidence or a well calculated prediction that Fridays are for markets , thumbs up
So here is an entrance to one section of the market this section houses warehouses, for wholesale and retail shop owners, large grocery stores, supermarket, whole and retail sale stores, here the outskate of the market is already crowded with people buyers and sellers
then as i passed thru the big gate, there was this big truck and offloading garri, (cassava granular) in big bags and take them to a ware house were it is stored and sold
[please note the prices of things is according to the current dollar to niara rate of 412.00-$1]
the full bag of garri cost $70, but they also sale half bag for half the price and other measures as you so desire, like i spoted this lady with her wheel barrow of garri and i asked her how much is is selling, she said the yellow custard rubber is sold at $2.90 and there.s a half of that we call medium rubber sold at $1.21 and small one at $0.72
and for the record this is one of the most consumed food in Nigeria, garri is so common and it very essential edible food in Nigeria and Africa as a whole
also another truck ofloading stakes of goods to the warehouse
After this i stroll out and head to another section of the market
i was so surprise at this popular in the market today, i was like really? were are they all coming from every were you look people at one time other were purchasing stuffs, bargaining prices back and forths and i was just feeling the moments s i walk bye
this lady sells fresh fish, when i asked of the price she told me there are fishes for $4.83, $2.90, $1.69 i said to her cut the one for $1.69 and she parkaged it for me and i continued my journey
i was actually heading to the section of the markets were they sale perishable goods like fresh tomatoes, fresh pepper, ginger, garlic and other things
again as i got there i met another truck offloading goods, fresh tomatoes and fresh paper in bags and in basket this section is largely occupied by the sellers of fresh tomatoes
then i walk over to a stand and engage the seller in a conversation and so i asked him how much are the prices of these basket of tomatoes, he said a basket goes for $13.28, and so when i tried bargaining with him he told me it's a new arrival and they are very fresh i should rather buy now, few moments after now there will be a rush by the market women here, wow! this is wonderful i said, and then i asked him when next will the truck offload again cause i wasn't ready to buy at the moment, he said everyday of the week this truck comes here to offload new fresh tomatoes, and that he sleeps in the market so as to receive them from every day
interesting i said to him, i told him okay, so i checked out his friend and enquiry about the prices there too, but he sales in big basket which he said goes for $24.14 each
i moved there and on my way out i met with some retailers they sale in small quantities
and other food stuff as well
basket of ginger and a the dried purple herbiscus which is used to make one on Nigeria's popular drink called zobo
dried cat fish in display
stand for selling meat such as goat meat, cow meat
i think we are done here, let's go over to another section of the market and feed our eyes to more collectibles and food stuffs for the family
it was almost like there was going to be another phase of the luck down and so people gush out of thier homes to store their home with all they would need for the next one month, as i entered here's is another truck offloading goods down
the whole place was so rowdy i could barely walk well, you just had to be on the move if not you get knocked down or pushed aside
then i walk over the onion section side, of the market, this side is mainly for onion traders they sale in bags, baskets and other smaller quantities as you wish
i walked over and ask how much are the prices for these she said, the big basket is sold for $14.48 when i ask why is it that expensive she told me thats the price now it's just the way it is, that they buy the full bag of onion for $82.07, so how about the smaller basket how much are they sold ,
she said this one goes for $9.66, $6.03 and $3.62 like that in their order, alright i said told her i will return that i was on a market survey for a business i want to set up, she thanked me and persuade me to come by next time that she is always available
as i was about to exit the market i spoted this woman selling periwinkle
she said the tomatoes container you see is sold for $1.45 i didn't bargain much with her since i wasn't buying at the time and passed
Most of the goods sold here such as rice, beans, garri, fresh tomatoes, fresh pepper, etc. they are brought in from the northern part of the country since the north are basically into Agricultural produce on a mechanized level,
it was really such a hectic day for me, by the end of it all i was exhausted and tired so i just took a cab head straight home head to the shower and refreshed then i made lunch and took a nap
thankyou all i really so appreciate everyone for coming around and spending this amazing time as we tour the markets, i hope i didn't stress or bore you, i really had a great time with everyone
mmmmuuahh
GRACIAS
😅
The prices seem reasonable! I can tell you that onions are overpriced here too. All over the world, it seems.
Your market teeming with people and it is such an active market! The people are really hustling to make a $$$. The gari is well priced, I think. It seems inexpensive to me, or at least not overpriced. Did you think it was overpriced? I cannot believe you hit all those trucks that were offloading!
I appreciate you bringing us to all the markets, I know how much trouble that is, but, honestly, it is so interesting and a wonderful cultural experience for people! Thank you!
#MarketFriday began as a way to reach out across the globe and learn about different cultures through their markets, especially local markets and farmers markets and eventually branching out and evolving over time from straight shopping to a cultural affair as it highlights how we differ and then again, how much we are alike. We have become a melting pot of culture, but, it is still the Rituals, Festivals, food, architecture, even your language/languages that separate us... Along with the fact of what is these things are normal for us. There are unwritten rules that rule our social behaviors. I see this as allowing for increased tolerance between cultures and nations, and opportunities to come together on an even playing ground. A strong culture can be beneficial to a country as it promotes unity, especially during a crisis, peaceful debate, and open dialogue. I have learned so much about all of you and it has been an amazing experience. I can only hope that learning about each other can help us work together for a peaceful world.
Fridays are all about the #MarketFriday Challenge! Looking to take part in it? Here is how:
Take pictures! Be creative!
5. Drop the link into the MarketFriday comment section so I can find it
7. You must put #MarketFriday by @dswigle somewhere on your post. If you don't and someone reads it, there is nothing to tie #MarketFriday to that post.
As always, please remember! #MarketFriday loves you!
Upped and Reposted
i vividly remember during the lockdown....onion here was like a bitcoin, you see a very tiny onion going for so much, the prices of onion then even till today has been heighten,....
what is it with onion...they are becoming so glorified in themselves
😁😂😂
and for the garri, well?...i'll say they are just on a normal price level...not over and not under either, compared to it prices before now.....
the market is a very busy one, one of the busiest in portHarcourt River-state Nigeria,..i felt it is a pleasure to share my experience and highlight of these market to the world thru the tunnel that you've made, i am most grateful for this...
thank you for all the encouragement, seriously they really go along way...
🙏🙏🙏
LongLiveYouReign
In case I didn't stress it enough, I just love this post! The first 4 pictures didn't show as the site was not working well a few days ago, but, I came back to look again!
Thank you! You made it amazing!