In the previous series,I talked about the exploits of bus conductors and drivers in Lagos and the reasons for their continued dominance of the Lagos metropolis. I will be adding a few more reasons why I think these guys are so successful at what they do.
Dependability: From the crack of dawn, the yellow buses are already up and about the city, conveying commuters to their various locations till after midnight. I haven’t known them to ever go on strike and even when the occasional/not so occasional fuel scarcity hits town, they are still seen plying their trade.
Skills: If you are ever stuck in a gridlock/ traffic jam which Lagos is famous for and woe betide you: you have a deadline to meet and you are on one of those roads where commercial motorcycles are banned, you would appreciate better the badass driving skills of these guys. They weave in out and out of lanes with prowess with as little damage as possible though provoking the ire of other road users and even perform some stunts in the name of overtaking. They are familiar with every inroad and byroad in Lagos to avoid gridlock and there are a lot of inroads in Lagos. They also never get lost. I doubt if they ever get lost and ask for directions.
Organization: Their trade unions are quite organized, this is noteworthy because most of their members are semi literate. They have a quite established pecking order and the heads of these unions are quite famous people in society. They also have designated routes and also designated touts collecting fees for the unions and assisting in getting passengers.
Lagos is a constantly changing metropolis but yet the yellow buses and their owners have become a constant feature in the city. They have become a culture symbol of the city and I have no doubt that they would continually adapt to the evolving challenges of business in Lagos.
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