A lot of women in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have turned their personal automobiles into informal taxis, which are called “kabu-kabu,” to make ends meet.
Some of the female drivers informed our reporter yesterday in Abuja that the move was necessary because of the tough economic situation, according to NAN.
The trend is becoming clearer as women are observed picking up passengers at key bus stations and intersections all throughout the city.
A lot of private vehicle owners these days, most of whom are women driving luxury cars, pick up people who are going to different parts of Abuja.
Mrs. Jane Nwaogara, a driver, claimed that the rise in transportation costs after the price of petrol went up at the pump was the main reason for the change.
Nwaogara said that the rising costs of living, such rent, school fees, and food, mean that people need to find more ways to make money.
“The economic hardship is hitting hard.” I have a lot of things to pay, such my kids’ school tuition, food, utilities, and medical bills.
The rising cost of petrol at the pump is the most important thing.
She said, “My salary can’t cover all of these, so I need to find more money, which is why I’m in the kabu-kabu business.”
Mrs. Blessing Okafor, who has three children and drives along the Lugbe to Area 1 route, said she started taking passengers early this year to help pay for her family’s mounting costs.
“It’s hard right now.” She stated, “It’s not easy to pay for school, food, and rent with just one income.”
Okafor said she decided to use her car to pick up passengers during peak hours because she saw that a lot of people had trouble finding cheap transportation.
“I normally park at the intersection in the morning and at night. “People are sometimes surprised to see a woman driving a kabu-kabu, but it’s the only way I can support my family,” she added.
Mrs. Habiba Moses, another driver, said that the rising cost of living and gas prices had forced many families to look for other ways to make money.
“When the price of fuel goes up, the cost of transportation likewise goes up. “People can’t afford regular taxis anymore, so they get into our cars,” she said.
Moses says that the money she makes from driving people around helps her buy gas, pay bills, and take care of other household needs.
Mrs. Erica Ekah noted that after she started picking up and dropping off passengers for employment, she no longer had to worry about money for gas.
Ekah remarked, “I recently found out that more and more women are driving their fancy cars to major intersections where we park to pick up passengers.”
“People are having a hard time these days. The economy is affecting everyone, and no one is ashamed anymore. Instead, they are looking for different ways to make ends meet.”
“Transportation is very important for economic growth, and governments at all levels need to take problems with it seriously for the sake of their citizens.”
Residents who used the service remarked that the rising number of private cars acting as taxis showed how much economic stress families in the capital city were under.
According to Mr. Samuel Olatunde, a civil servant, many workers now depend on side jobs to make ends meet.
“My pay alone isn’t enough to pay my bills, and I think that’s true for everyone. Some of my coworkers drive people around after work to make additional money.
He also claimed, “Many of the private cars you see around busy intersections during rush hour belong to workers who are trying to make extra money.”
Some commuters, on the other hand, said that having more private cars available for rides had helped cut down on wait times for transportation, especially during busy times.
“I see people with very clean cars stopping to pick up passengers,” observed Miss Ruth James, a trader. A lot of them are ladies who just want to make more money.
“I think the reason many of them do it is simple: they need to survive. They don’t do it for luxury; they do it because the economy is tough and their families depend on them,” she said.
Economic experts suggest that the increasing number of women using informal transportation was a sign of larger economic trends.
Mr. Eric Eze, an economist, claimed that Nigeria’s economy was getting worse, which was forcing more women into jobs that are usually held by men in order to make money.
Eze added that many families were going into the informal sector because incomes weren’t keeping up with the rising cost of living.
“When income stays the same and prices and the cost of living keep going up, people naturally look for other methods to make money.
“More and more women are getting into transportation and other informal companies to keep their homes stable.
He remarked, “The growth of informal taxi services may continue if economic pressures stay high and public transportation systems stay bad.”
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