Nigeria Women and Mechanics: The Hidden Struggles Women Face at Auto Repair Shops

You see, there are so many issues in our country that we hardly raise or give little relevance to, and which are indeed very important for women in Nigeria. However, no matter how minute or trivial we think it is, it is a big deal; Nigerian women and mechanics. I think it’s high time we throw light on these issues.

As a lady living in the southern part of  Nigeria, I can tell you for free that I have firsthand experience when it comes to mechanics and car repairs. Believe me, it wasn’t a sweet experience. “Matter plenty for ground no be small”(lots of issues to discuss). I know the Nigerian in you would be thinking, “Why my car dey always get fault? lol.” Naija people, I’ll tell you my experience;

My Experience

I had an overheated car on my way home. Thank God, there was a mechanic close by at the time. That was how I gently and prayerfully drove the car to his mechanic shop. When I got there, I called my partner and told him about my situation. He was worried that he wasn’t with me physically, because he had travelled. He requested that he speak to the mechanic. After the mechanic finished speaking with my partner on the phone and negotiated the cost of fixing and replacing what needed to be replaced, the mechanic called the car electrician to fix the electrical fault, and the electrician did.

After the whole back and forth with the mechanic and the car electrician, they said: “Madam, thank God your gasket no burn oo”  (be grateful the gasket didn’t burn).

Things Every Nigerian Woman Should Know Before Visiting a Mechanic 

What that experience taught me as a Nigerian lady living in Nigeria is that you must be street savvy. My advice to people, especially ladies who go to the mechanic shop alone, is;

 1. As a Nigeria Woman You Must Be very smart, Borrow Street Sense, If You Don’t Have Any when dealing with mechanics.

Most Naija (Nigerian) mechanics can easily take advantage of someone because you are a woman.

2. Have A Male Figure On Call.

Always ensure you have someone, preferably a male figure (father, friend, partner, brother), you can call behind the scenes, just in case any situation or issue comes up with the mechanic, because let’s face it, you are not always going to be around your “male figure” all the time. It’s not everyone who can keep one mechanic for a long time; some people change theirs over time. Some mechanics won’t want to go through the stress of meeting you at the place where your car breaks down, while some might probably send their apprentice to you instead.

You won’t blame them totally in most cases; they might explain to you that they can’t leave their shop due to too much workload at their shop, while some are just intentionally nonchalant. As a Naija babe(Nigerian lady), it’s good to be prepared at all times.

3. Nigerian Women, Know Your car

You should have an idea of the specifications of your car. Do research, ask Google the make of your car.

 If I didn’t have an idea of what a gasket, kick starter, or complete fuel pump, mechanic for Don Run Me Street (insincere), thanks to the positive male figures I have.

4. Know The Cost Of The Auto Parts You Want To Fix In Your Car

It’s ideal that you buy it yourself or get a good plug that sells auto parts, because most mechanics won’t be sincere with you; they will increase the price of their auto parts by buying from their auto parts dealers. My own is, even if you must cheat me, please keep it to the barest minimum. Nigerian women, you should get it yourself if it’s convenient and possible for you.

5. It’s Probably Not Your Fault, But Try to Avoid a Secluded Breakdown

Hope and pray your car doesn’t break down and disgrace you in an unknown or secluded place, because it’s never a sweet experience. Firstly, your activities for that day would be ruined completely, and secondly, you will just be frustrated.

6. Stay Close If possible. 

If possible, wait till your car gets fixed. If your gut tells you to wait till the mechanic fixes the car, please kindly wait. If it’s a different ball game entirely, whereby the mechanic

tells you u have to leave it at his shop, you have no choice but to do so, but then again, you have to be ready to ginger him up so that he won’t leave your car and start doing someone else’s own.

When you are not there, you have to call him often so that he will focus on your car; otherwise, be ready to hear a series of excuses.

A Friend’s Experience

A friend of mine told me how his mechanic drove his car from Benin City in Edo state to Warri in Delta state just to “test” the car. He went to the mechanic workshop, to his utmost surprise, he found out that his car wasn’t there. He called the mechanic on the phone, but he didn’t pick up his phone. He was so furious that one of the mechanic’s apprentices came to him

looking tense and scared, told him quietly that his boss had gone to Warri in Delta State, that he was testing the car’s efficiency after fixing it. Imagine! Lol.

Most mechanics would try your patience, trust me. My friend called him a series of times before he finally picked up, and he started apologizing, saying he was already close by.

It was war that day.

My Two Cents

Nigerian women, don’t worry, you’ve got this. That’s why I’m here to enlighten you. I hope that with these experiences, you will be more careful and street savvy when dealing with most Nigerian mechanics.