Nigeria: New Okada Rider On the Block

Mrs. Ugo Mouka has been earning a living from hawking of ice blocks for the past 20 years. Mouka, who saw the loopholes caused by erratic supply of electricity in the country, and problem faced by many Nigerians in icing their drinks; capitalized on it by starting ice blocks business.

ICE block business is not new, but what distinguishes Mrs. Ugo Mouka’s business from others is the fact that she moves around with a motorcycle and sells ice blocks to people at their doorsteps.

The mother of a three-year-old girl sells ice blocks in the morning and runs a restaurant in the evening.When this reporter saw her at Isuti junction, Egan, Alimosho Local Council, Lagos, she was busy fixing her motorcycle which developed a minor fault. She barely had time to pay attention to the reporter but managed to dictate her cell phone number.

Two weeks after, the reporter eventually located her mini restaurant but she was again busy selling ice blocks to her customers in that same area of Igando.

Finally, she paid attention: “Oga, what do you want from me? I am busy with my business. Are you going to give me money for this interview?”, she asked jokingly.

Asked why she chooses hawking ice blocks of all the businesses around, Mouka explained that the ice blocks business was the only business that was not capital intensive for her to start.