A Nigerian woman who is an interstate bus driver has said she has a passion for the job, which she has used to train her children.
The 59-year-old woman, Mrs. Onokpite Agbaduta Beauty, revealed that she started her transport business in 1992 following her husband’s death.
In an interview with Daily Trust, the woman stated that she began by purchasing buses for drivers who provided her with regular returns, but she had to drive herself after they mistreated her.
Agbaduta, who said driving had always been her hobby, revealed that she took out a loan to invest in the business, through which she has been supporting her children.
She said one of the challenges she faced while playing the roads was a lack of respect for women, especially from her male counterparts, whom she accused of talking to everybody as if they were their children.
She said: “I started this business when I was 39 years old, and I am now 59. My first child is married with children and doing fine with his family. The second one, who holds a master’s degree, is teaching and earning N40,000 per month. He is still living with me. My last daughter graduated last year and is currently serving in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.
“Right from a young age, I have always enjoyed driving. It is my hobby. After I lost my job, I discovered that the only way I could raise money to train my children to the level I wanted was to enter the commercial transportation industry. That was the reason I ventured into the business,” she narrated.
Speaking about how her children, friends and family members felt when she started the business, she said, “When I started in Lagos in 2011, one of my friends called me and asked why I had to take to such a business, and I had to tell her that I was using the business to take care of my children.
“She couldn’t fault my claim because since I got to Lagos, I didn’t approach any of them for money to feed; instead, I was always ready to support the needy. As for my children, they knew I was a very hard-working woman. In fact, in the year 2020, I bought a Corolla car for my son, who is now a master’s degree holder.
“He was using it for Bolt at that time, but he was frustrated by government officials. He said he could not continue the business again. I had to take the vehicle back along with mine.”
Speaking more on the challenges facing her in the business, Mrs Onopute said, “As you know, it is not easy to relate with our male counterparts, especially as it is interstate. It is terrible. If not for that, I would have had a passion for the job, and due to the country’s situation, I would have looked for something else to do. Many times I would be frustrated and cry because of the way they treat me in parks.
“On many occasions, when they saw me crying, my children would encourage me to take it easy. I also encourage myself to keep going because I know that one day, things will change. The situation with male drivers can be frustrating and, in some cases, even humiliating. They have no respect for women. You can only see very few men respecting women. As a passenger, you must have seen some of them,” she recalled. The day her daughter returned home with tears, her friends were mocking her because her mother is a commercial driver.
“I remember in 2012, my daughter, who is now a driver, returned home with tears. She said her friends were mocking her because I am a commercial driver. I had to beg her and appeal to her. I told her that she should thank God that I was not tagged a prostitute or an armed robber. And I thank God today; she is ahead of those who mocked her.”
On the time she resumes and closes, Agbaduta said, “I usually leave home at 4:30am, but leave by 4am during festive periods because festive periods are always rush time. I leave early because the executives load their vehicles first. However, if I leave early, I may be lucky enough to see passengers before the NURTW executive arrives at the motor park. However, if I don’t get to park early, I may need to wait until 2 pm before picking up passengers.
“I don’t have a fixed time to close, but I leave home very early to meet up. For instance, today, I went to Ibadan and returned to Ikorodu before 2pm because people are returning to Lagos from the Sallah holiday. It largely depends on the inflow of passengers.” She identified the high cost of vehicle parts and bad roads as part of the challenges transporters face in the country.
Also recounting her experience with transport officials in Lagos State, she said, “In April 2014, when I was still working in Ebute Metta, a Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) official approached me, saying his boss asked him to take me to their office. I was wondering what my offence was, and before I knew what was happening, he entered my car and took me to their office. And before I could talk, he brought out a booking of N39,000. When I asked about my offence, he said that I beat the traffic light. I demanded to see their boss, but the man told me that all the officials of the agency who knew me had begged on my behalf. However, he insisted that I had to pay. And before God and man, I did not beat any traffic. I cried for a long time before I saw someone to lend me money to pay them. I was frustrated. I cannot forget my experience that day. Till now, each time I think about it, I feel like crying.”
She also said, “With what is going on in Nigeria today, if you rent a shop, you may not make the required money before the end of the year. For instance, in 2016, I rented a shop, but at the end of the year, I couldn’t make enough money to renew my rent, so I had to go back to the transport business.
“I took a loan and I bought this vehicle, and I am paying it back gradually. If I had rented a shop with that loan, I would not have been able to pay it back and support my children, as well as educate them.
“I want to advise women who are interested in this business not to look at the challenges we are facing. They should focus on their dreams.
“The government should try to fix our roads. I know it is not easy, but they can help. They can do some palliative measures on our roads to make them motorable.
“Because of bad roads, we spend a lot of money to fix our vehicles. A larger part of the money we make also goes to touts. Mechanics and part sellers are also not helping matters.
“I rely on God and my children for strength.”
Asked when she intended to stop the business, the mother of three said, “I can only stop the business when I have another business. For now, that is the only means I can take care of my children.”
