The Lagos State government on Thursday auctioned abandoned and seized vehicles at the Task Force Yard, Ikeja.
In attendance at the public sale were some of the drivers whose vehicles were seized for disobeying traffic laws who cried helplessly as they watch their cars being sold out and taken over by highest bidders.
It was gathered that the event was attended by profit minded businessmen while some persons struck deals with the highest bidders who bought their vehicles and made payments immediately.
Meanwhile, a driver who was identified as Osinachi Ndukwe, and his mother, Dorothy Dike, wept as Ndukwe’s vehicle was auctioned. The duo who thought they would be able to reclaim the vehicle with N50, 000 offer had their expectations dashed when a bidder offered over N430, 000 during the public sale.
Ndukwe who sensed he might lose the vehicle to the last bidder reportedly bursted into tears and started rolling on the floor.
“But some participants near where he was advised him to offer a higher bid to close the auction. He got the message instantly, wiped the tears flowing to his cheeks and offered N450, 000 which he was required to pay within 48 hours.”
According to Ndukwe, he is yet to balance the payment of the vehicle from whom he bought it, “I got the vehicle on hire purchase for N1.8m and up till now, I have yet to pay the remaining amount, he added.
“Sincerely, it has been a series of trouble for me in recent times. After I drove against traffic and the vehicle was impounded, I was sentenced to three years imprisonment which I just completed two weeks ago. During my jail term, I lost my three-year-old daughter due to unavailability of funds to cater for her while I was in prison.”
He explained that the vehicle was his only means of survival adding that getting it auctioned for that amount destabilised him.
“We barely eat daily. My mother hawks traditional herbs and that’s where she has been catering for the family. I don’t have a father. He is dead and there’s really no hope and I don’t see help coming from any angle. We are all by ourselves.
“How do I get N450, 000 to pay in the next 48 hours, starting tomorrow? It’s almost impossible to do. The irony of everything is that I still have debt on the vehicle from the hire purchase I got it and they have also been on my neck to ensure payment. I can only appeal to Nigerians come to my aid. My family needs help.”
Similarly, An unidentified vehicle owner who refused to speak with the press almost fainted when a bidder offered more than the N150, 000 he budgeted for his impounded vehicle.
The wife, however, noted that the husband was hypertensive, adding that talking about the situation would worsen the matter.
She said, “Please, let us be. We are not in the right state of mind. He is hypertensive and I won’t want him to collapse due to the different thoughts running in his head. The bus has been secured by someone else and that is our only means of survival.”
Following the emotional outburst of vehicle owners, some bidders refused to bid for vehicles whose owners were present and showed proof of ownership. Two soldiers appealed to bidders not to bid for their minibus available for auction and they were able to retrieve it for N50, 000. Also, two drivers succeeded in recovering their vehicles after appealing to bidders not to bid for the vehicles.