₦airaland Forum

Many women in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have converted their private cars into informal taxis, popularly known as “kabu-kabu”, in order to make ends meet.

Some of the female drivers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, that the move was necesitated due to the economic hardship.

NAN reports that the trend is becoming more visible as the women are seen at major junctions and bus stops across the city to pick passengers.

Many private car owners nowadays, most of which were females in luxury cars, now pick up passengers heading to different parts of Abuja.



A driver, Mrs Jane Nwaogara, said the development was largely driven by rising transportation costs following increase in pump price of petrol.

According to Nwaogara, the mounting household expenses such as school fees, rent and food, calls for additional sources of income.

“The economic hardship is biting hard. I have so many bills to pay including my children’s school fees, feeding, utility and medical bills, among others.

“Above all these, is the increasing cost in pump price of petrol.

“My salary cannot settle all of these, so I need to find additional income, thus my involvement in kabu-kabu business,” she said.

Similarly, Mrs Blessing Okafor, a mother of three who operates along the Lugbe to Area 1 route, said she started conveying passengers earlier this year to cope with rising household expenses.

“Things are very difficult now. School fees, feeding and house rent are not easy to handle with just one source of income,” she said.

Okafor said she decided to use her car to pick passengers during peak hours after realising that many commuters struggled to find affordable transport.

“ I usually park at the junction in the morning and evening. Sometimes people are surprised when they see a woman driving kabu-kabu, but it is the only way I can support my family,” she said.

Another driver, Mrs Habiba Moses, said the increase in fuel prices and the cost of living had made it necessary for many families to look for alternative income sources

“When fuel price goes up, transport fare also increases. Many people cannot afford the regular taxis anymore, so they enter our cars,” she said.

According to Moses, the income from conveying passengers helps her to buy fuel, pay utility bills and meet other family needs.

Ironfaceman:
Dear Lord help our mothers and sisters out there in Abuja. May Nigeria never happen to them.

As they go about their business never let them cross parts with

The ritualist
The organ harvester
The one chance gang
The touch and follow crew
And not forgetting the Boko Haram sect
IJN

helinues:
Those who are truly going through hardship don't even have a bicycle

helinues:
Those who are truly going through hardship don't even have a bicycle

BigYash:
Now you have realized that your party truly messed the country up right? They said PDP was this and that then,look are where their CHANGE led Nigeria to. They keep deceiving you guys with Hope this ,Hope that,as if na hope citizens go chop. I can see that all the fraudsters and drug barons are aligning (allegedly), calling themselves city boys. They want to also share from the loots. And I hope you are sharing too,cus you can be so stu. P*d defending oppressor and all you gain is nothing..

Ironfaceman:
You see these are family people if school fees was 40000naira but now is 250 000 naira she need to get the extra somewhere.

I bet you're not married so you won't understand.



.

helinues:
Today is Monday morning. Carry your years of bitterness expression away from my mentions

Thank you

Buhari4dullard:
Someone point out something.

Nija prospered well well under Gowon, OBJ & GEJ.
They were all christians.

Nija suffers whenever the religion of peace enters.
Check am.,

The difference is clear

helinues:
Today is Monday morning. Carry your years of bitterness expression away from my mentions

Thank you

helinues:
Married man, price of everything in other countries have remained the same since a decade now

Continue nagging instead of doing your hustling smartly

Reference:
But the claim on the other side is that the worst effects of the economic reforms are over. So who is telling the truth if ordinary citizens are taking yet one more step downwards into trials and danger.

helinues:
Those who are truly going through hardship don't even have a bicycle

Modified: If you want to be unfortunate on Monday morning, just attack my opinion

Maxymilliano:
It’s not just in the FCT. Even here in Lagos, many private car owners in Victoria Island do the same thing.