A Cab driving is largely associated with male counterparts in Nigeria particularly in the Niger Delta region. It is against this backdrop that our Senior Correspondent,Omonigho Matthew caught up with a female cab driver in Warri, Queen Adeneyen who is a mother of two boys.
Enjoy it.
Can we meet you?
My name is Queen Adeneyen and I am a taxi driver
Why are you into cab driving, a trade widely regarded as solely for men?
I do it because I have no other business to do and there’s nothing to feed me and my children with (sic) that is why I entered this line (sic) to survive.
How long have you been doing this and what are the routes you ply?
I have been doing this business for at least a year now and I run Iyara to Enerhen junction (in Warri) daily.
How many children do you have?
I have two boys
Are your husband and children happy seeing you do this business?
I don’t have a husband…(few seconds silence).My children are happy with it for now.
What have you achieved since venturing into commercial driving?
I have not really achieved anything from it,I am just doing it so that I can keep body and soul going.
How much do you make on daily basis?
It depends, if I have a (sic) dropping I canmake between 3 to 4,000 naira. But if I don’t, I make at least 1,000 nairaafter buying fuel.
Are Delta city taxis and buses favourable to you transporters?
It disturbs our business.
What are the challenges you are facing?
The job is very stressful. Since there is nothing to do, I just need to manage until I get a store.
Do road transport touts disturb you like your male counterparts in Enerhen Motor Park?
Agberos (touts) are very good to me. They don’t sell ticket to me and they don’t disturb me.
So,what form of assistance do you need from the public, particularly the Delta State government?
If the Delta State government can help me I will be happy. I was formally doing business with Coca-Cola. But now I don’t have anything doing. So if the government can assist me financially to enable me get a store, I will be very glad.
What is your advice to women who wait for their husbands to take full responsibility of the home?
It is wrong, my advice is that all women should assist their husbands.
It’s nice speaking with you….
Thank you.