30th April 2025
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The use of open van as a means of transportation is fast becoming an acceptable norm in Abuja. Thus, replacing the use of buses or other decent vehicles for public transportation. This is conspicuous along AYA-Nyanya-Mararaba Road, Kubwa-Zuba Road, Lugbe-Kuje-Gwagwalada road and even Apo-Lokogoma Road.
Commuters, in larger, “pack” themselves in these open vans in the morning when they are going to workplaces and in the evening when they are returning from work. The simple reason is to cut cost.
Toyota Hilux, Hijet van, canter vans and other types of such vehicles with open roof and space, including Daylong tricycle, are the choice vehicles for these services. Commuters patiently wait at the various bus stops for these open vans, and whenever they arrive, it becomes a case of the “survival of the fittest.” You have to rush even before the vans stop to secure a vantage and safe spot for the journey that might, probably, last for 30 minutes or an hour.
Many residents of FCT are concerned that this mode of transportation is seemingly unsafe and expose commuters and motorists to high risks, including accidents.
Meanwhile, there were reports in the past about commuters falling off the open van on transit along AYA-Nyanya-Mararaba Road and other locations in Abuja. While the lucky ones ended up in hospital to attend to their injuries sustained, the unlucky ones lost their lives.
It was also reported that commuters are often exposed to unfriendly weather conditions, including rain, which often leads to health challenges.
Some push factors
One of the key push factors, according to investigations, is the unexpected and significant rise in cost of transportation in the FCT. Before the fuel subsidy removal announcement on May 29, 2023, cost of transportation was relatively affordable for the low. But things went south when fuel subsidy removal was effected, thus making transportation more unaffordable.
For instance, transport fare from Mararaba to Federal Secretariat, Wuse, or Garki with public bus was N150/N200 before the fuel subsidy removal. But shortly after that, the transport fare hit N800 to N1000. The same astronomical increment in the transport fare was also witnessed in other routes in addition to inflation.
Another push factor was the poor public transportation system in the FCT. Recent activities exposed the fact that FCT has no coordinated public transport system that ought to service the interest of commuters.
In the past years of Muhammed Bello’s administration as FCT Minister, little or no provision was made for mass transport system, as was the case during the times of former FCT Ministers, Nasir El-Rufai and Bala Mohammed, respectively, who made some investments in the procurement of high-capacity buses for use by commuters.
Perhaps, the buses have broken down due to poor maintenance, and “abandoned” at their various parks at Kubwa Road, Karu and other locations. As a result, commuters have relied on private vehicle owners to aid movement, a situation that created opportunity for criminal drivers, aka “one chance” to dispossess commuters of their belongings often at gunpoint.
Motorists speak
Anselm Eyitab, a Federal Government worker, said the opportunity has opened a great window of opportunity for him: “I wasn’t doing this before neither had ever considered it until I was on my way home one day in July 2023 through Maitama (Transcorp), junction, when some people were waving me down. When I stopped, they asked to join me to Mararaba.
“They told me how much they would pay and I carried them. Upon reaching Nyanya bus stop, they all jumped down and disappeared without paying. One sincere person stayed back, paid and told me what to do the next time. It was a big lesson for me that day.
“Next time, I stopped midway, precisely, at Sheme Filling Station before Kugbo, collected my money, gave change and moved on. So, once I reach Nyanya or any of the bus stops, the passengers will be down. It has been a wonderful experience since then. I make good money every morning and evening from these trips.”
Mr. Kehinde Omole works at Apo mechanic village and lives in Karu, Abuja. He said: “Many of the boys in Apo who live around Nyanya, Karu, Mararaba and Jikwoyi often wait for me each day after work. Initially, they were joining me for free until one day that I told them that I use fuel and not water to drive the car. That was the day they started paying.
“From Apo roundabout to Nyanya or Karu bridge is around N1,000. But I gave them 50 per cent discount because of the little discomfort, and they are happy about it. They join me everyday with joy and happiness.”
Abdulsalam Surajo owns a Hijet van. He’s not regular in doing that, but he does that each time the opportunity comes especially whenever he’s going to Zuba or Gwagwalada in the evenings after work hours:
“But there was a near fatal accident in one of the trips recently. I had to match break impromptu because of an unexpected incident. The commuters almost fell off the van. It was the grace of God that saved the situation. Since then, I made sure I don’t carry too many passengers no matter the urge to do so.”
Commuters’ complaints
Plangnan Joy, works as a cleaner in one of the private offices at Wuse 2, Abuja, with N35,000 as salary. She lives in Masaka, Nasarawa State, bordering Abuja: “Joining coaster bus to town costs me at least N800, while small taxi or private cars charge N1000 and above.
“Simple wisdom shows that my salary is not enough for transportation for a month. But God has been faithful and helpful. I rely on the little help and tips of which are not consistent. Using open vans, lesser in cost saves the day.”
Onyedika Ekeji is a POS operator at UTC, Garki, Abuja: “I joined the open van for the first in March last year. Since then, I fell in love with the open van.
“But I broke down sometimes ago when heavy rain caught us midway the journey and there was no place we could hide immediately. We all got drenched. I broke down with malaria the following day.”
A banker, Adamu Bello, who resides at Dei Dei, Abuja, said he has a customer-driver who he joins in the van morning and evening: “Otherwise will make me broke before the end of the month. I am not the type that begs people for something. I prefer to live within my means to avoid ‘see finish’.
“Some of my colleagues have made jest of him, but I care less. I know my financial strength. I will like to operate within that circle to avoid being unnecessarily “broke” before the next salary comes.”
Ekeji and other commuters appealed to the FCT Administration: “The current FCT Administration led by Nyesom Wike is doing well in terms of infrastructural development and other administrative evolution. It’s time he considers an efficient public transport system in the FCT.
“Ihe population is growing significantly, and that has put serious pressure on the infrastructure, particularly transportation system. FCTA should intervene in this area to ease the sufferings of commuters.”
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