Fairly Used Clothes Trade Booms In Warri

By Ambrose Ologide

Warri, the commercial hob of Delta State is perhaps the highest selling town of fairly used clothes in Delta State. There are special days for the sales of the products popularly known as ‘ gbogbo ‘ in different markets in the oil city.

The popular and biggest of them, is the McIver Market which holds on Mondays. Canopies were erected on the eve of McIver Market for the sales of gbogbo also known as ‘ Okrika ‘ by desperate traders.

It was gathered that sellers and buyers come from far and near and that the affluent in the society also patronize the market in their numbers in flashy cars for purchase of the second hand clothes.

Igbudu Market by Bazunu Road is the second biggest market of gbogbo clothes in Warri and it holds on Saturdays.

The next to Igbudu Market in the trade of gbogbo, is Pesu Market and it holds on Thursdays.

A trader of gbogbo clothes who simply identified herself as Mama Ruki who spoke to our correspondent in a media chat at McIver, proudly stated that gbogbo Market is where one gets variety of clothes from the developed World. She also disclosed that there is what is called ‘ bail’ (consignment) and that it contains varieties of clothes.

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“Some of these gbogbo clothes are so new that you may not know the difference between them and ready-made clothes. Lawyers, journalists, doctors, teachers, government workers and young women patronize us mostly,” she added.

Another respondent, Ndibuisi Okafor who also trades on Okrika clothes in Igbudu Market, corroborated the claims of Mama Ruki.

He disclosed that most of their customers are owners of boutiques.

“Some of those expensive clothes you buy in boutiques were bought from us. They buy from us and later dry-clean our products and then sell them at expensive prices in their boutiques,” he added.

It is interesting to note that the gbogbo trade does not end with the sales of second hand clothes as there is also the sale of used leather handbags and shoes.
However, the biggest market for these products is Igbudu Market by Bazunu Road.

Most buyers of gbogbo products who were approached for comment, were shy to chat with our correspondent as some even expressed aggression towards our correspondent for daring to ask them for their reason for buying gbogbo products.

However, one of them, Christopher Opone, stated that “if you want the best foreign clothes, the best place to be is here (Gbogbo Market).”

He also alleged that most foreign made clothes in boutiques are gbogbo products.

A Warri based renowned medical practitioner, Dr Sam Efetobor was approached for comment by our correspondent if there are health implications for putting on second hand clothes.

Efetobor who is the Medical Director of Palmer Clinic and Maternity, Ekete Inland, Udu Local Government Area, warned that there are health implications of putting on second hand clothes if they are not properly watched and disinfected.

Efetobor who is the 1st National Vice President of Urhobo Peoples Integrity Organization (UPIO) also warned that if gbogbo products are not properly watched and disinfected, users may end up contacting diseases that did not initially have.