In Nigeria, the little « danfos » bus thing against the demographic and urban boom of Lagos – Liberation
Owolabi Bolagui, 71, could be the image of an advertisement for Volkswagen. It leads the vans of the German brand to Lagos for half a century and worked as a charm. Right as an « I », the driver walks the sides of his vehicle, shouting his destination – « Obalende, Obaland, Obalendeee » – In the characteristic, chanting and dragging way, carriers. The faster his 22 places will be filled, the faster he will leave. He repeats: « Time is money. » And here, money, like time, never stops turning. Besides, like all Lagotian, Owolabi Bolagui says he executes the « Lazy ».
The old driver saw the population of the economic capital of Nigeria exploding, going from 1.5 million inhabitants when he obtained his driver’s license, in 1973, to more than 20 million today – according to estimates, because no one knows the exact number. Neither the State nor the municipality was able to accompany such a demographic and urban boom. The public transport network, which has two RER lines since last year as well as a public bus company, is ridiculously underdeveloped for the needs of the monster city.
The vast majority of the inhabitants therefore recover, for the better and for the worst, to the Danfos, These minibus of yellow color emblematic of the sprawling lagos that they crisscross in all directions. « Nothing changes », notes the aptly named patience, sitting on the last
