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  • 2 years ago
What's it like to be an Agbero, or area boy, hustling in the Lagos public transport system? In this episode of "My Hustle," DW's Samson Adeleke takes a look into the gritty, fast-paced world of area boys. From collecting dues to keeping the buses moving, it's all about the hustle. But where does the money that Agberos collect from drivers go to?
Transcript
00:00If you are a yellow bus driver in Lagos, you might be confronted by people asking you for
00:09money at the bus stop.
00:11They are called Agbero.
00:14Welcome to another episode of my hustle, where we explore the lives of hardworking individual.
00:21And guess what?
00:22In this episode, I will be trying out what it takes to be an Agbero person.
00:27You know what I mean?
00:29To clarify, Agbero is a Yoruba word that means area voice.
00:36You can find Agbero nearly every bus stop in Lagos, and their job is to collect fees
00:43from the downfall drivers.
00:46Our hustler for today is Amudabodi.
00:49He has been an Agbero for the past 50 years.
00:58So, now guys, this is the real time, I'm about to step on the street now.
01:22Alright, where's your ticket?
01:24Where's your ticket now?
01:26Where is it?
01:28Where's your ticket now?
01:30Where is your ticket?
01:32Where's your ticket?
01:34Ok now, you don't pay at all.
01:36Ok now, don't shake it.
01:39Where's your ticket?
01:41Where's your ticket?
01:46Where's your ticket?
01:48He don't pay, where's your ticket?
01:50Ma deo, ok, ok now.
01:54It is unclear whether the money collected by the Agbiros is remitted directly to the
02:08local or state government or it ends up in their pocket.
02:12There are those touts that are looking for their daily bread and in the way and manner
02:17they do it is uncalled for.
02:19They can do and undo without them being checked.
02:22You will see an Agbiro guy harassing the driver in front of a police or community guy and
02:27nothing will be done.
02:28And in terms of the money that they take from the drivers, what do you think about it?
02:31If you give Agbiro money, if he marks your face, maybe he forgives you.
02:35Definitely they are making money for themselves.
02:37I don't think they have anybody auditing them.
02:39Can you audit those guys, these touts, can you audit them?
02:42I don't think you can do that now.
02:44Anything they give you is what you take.
02:46And you see them working as late as 9, 10, 11pm.
02:50What for?
02:51According to Amoda, Agbiro remits all the money to the authorities.
03:05So in a day sometimes you can sell like 100 tickets, 200 tickets?
03:08No.
03:09Okay, okay, okay.
03:10And I see that the job won't be an easy job at all.
03:12How do you cope?
03:22Mhm.
03:40Thank you very much, Mr. Amoda.
03:42Nice one, guys.
03:44So guys, that is the end of this episode.
03:47So keep watching DW The 77%.
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