Economic Hardship-Abuja women turn into “Kabu-Kabu” drivers

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.