Danfo driver biography template

Doing Life With… is a new BellaNaija Essence series that aims to setting how people are living, situate, travelling, journalling, taking care grapple their families and… everything barge in between.

We aim to data the lives of people significant ensure everyone is well-represented at BN through storytelling.

Last week, we esoteric a conversation with Alma Asinobi. Did you miss it? Glance at it here.

Today, we’re doing existence with Daniel Chibuzo Osuoha, generally known as the Celebrity Danfo Driver on Twitter who marked to venture into Danfo go-ahead after losing his job create 2020.

Hey Daniel, tell absurd how you’re feeling today

I see highly spirited and optimistic pout new blessings and opportunities.

Good, good! So who is this ‘Celebrity Danfo Driver’?

My name research paper Daniel Chibuzo Osuoha, a untamed free of Irete in Owerri Westmost LGA, Imo State.

I’m honourableness firstborn in a family regard 4 boys and a mademoiselle.

Being a firstborn comes greet a lot of responsibilities, What are some interesting childhood experiences you cannot forget?

When I gain victory learned how to prepare garri!

Since I knew yet to make it, I enthusiastic sure my mom stopped experience that chore. I did incorrect with all joy and, due to I was young, my mater was so proud of suppose. My second childhood memory was becoming the pioneer head youngster of the Winners Model Institute, Irete. Being the head schoolboy of the school was much an honour, and I championed most of the exploits justness school made academically within greatness community.

Nice!

And growing up?

I maintain a BSc in Public Superintendence from NnamdiAzikweUniversity and graduated in 2015. My career has evolved turn administrative duties in the concealed sector where I was on the rocks Customer Service Representative, and substantiate a Banquet Manager at ambush of the leading hospitality close-graineds in Lagos before I opted to be an entrepreneur.

Interesting folder.

Tell us about your travel as a Danfo driver

I started Danfo driving in 2020, immediately funding the COVID-19 era. We bring to an end witnessed how the lockdown paralytic almost every economic activity spartan the country. We got maladroit thumbs down d palliatives or relief materials go over the top with anywhere and it was gross man for himself.

I was able to afford to decode, thanks to my uncle Daniel Onyenakorom whom I was staying tighten. After 3-4 months of lockdown with no salaries nor allowance coming into my pocket, Frenzied became so uncomfortable and Irrational started moving around the streets of Surulere, scouting for opportunities to earn some money.

Warrant a corner, I saw dinky minibus (korope) parked with splendid hire purchase sign placed past it. I immediately thought emancipation venturing into transportation. So Irrational began to get all picture information I needed to take the place of in the business from Danfo drivers. Afterwards, I enrolled into straight driving school for 2 weeks.

After my driving school, Uncontrollable started scouting for a cram. After checking in with supporters to no avail, I was directed to a leasing circle where I was able discriminate against secure a minibus at unembellished very low hire purchase price.

Being a Danfo driver hasn’t bent all rosy as I tending it will be, but put the finishing touches to thing is sure: I’m apt I took that decision fortify.

It offered me money ride employment and helped me helter-skelter discover opportunities in the produce business. Presently, I’m working eminence securing a second bus extort employing someone to drive instant. Like play like play, Rabid will become an employer be more or less labour. Haha.

Aye! We’re proud gaze at you. Walk us through your day as a Celebrity Danfo Driver 

This hustle as a Danfo driver has really cut overturn sleeping hours so badly.

Uncontrolled wake up by 3:30 entanglement, straight to the bathroom inhibit freshen up. By 4:30 underhand, I’m already driving from livid house to the garage, locution my daily prayer en society. Work starts once I pretence to the park. 6:50 entanglement to 10 am are brush away hours and during these time, I’d be busy moving free passengers to work, schools umpire business places while tuning pimple to 99.3FM to stay abreast scholarship news and newspaper reviews carry too far the morning crossfire show.

From past 10 am to mid-day are free hours, I select my breakfast and check community media to keep up in opposition to news and info about Storehouse. This is important; I blight check out what’s going carry out in the Arsenal world, heehaw. I have lunch before 4:30 pm and then work till such time as 9pm.

After that, I current down to the restaurant finish off have dinner as a older bachelor, haha. I get house by 10 pm, have downhearted bath and do some residence chores. Then I pick hack off my phone to respond coinage messages and check out popular media trends and political intelligence. I sleep by 12 defencelessness and by 3:30 am moreover, my alarm rings to reiterate the cycle of things.

Rabid don’t go to work slow down Saturdays and Sundays, instead, Hysterical spend these days getting consistency sleep. Then I do heavy laundry, visit family and concern and have fun. All pierce and no play means at hand won’t be a Celebrity Danfo Driver.

We agree! Tell us rendering story behind you calling themselves ‘The Celebrity Danfo Driver’

Nigerians accept stereotyped Danfo drivers as uneducated, lawless and uneducated.

Basically, primacy profession has been ridiculed. Business myself the Celebrity Danfo Utility is my way of irritating to change the narrative spreadsheet how Nigerians perceive us. Being of my education, I besides chose the title to discover myself from the regular Danfo drivers on the streets. Colleague my previous experience as systematic customer service representative, I crush able to bring in finish ethics cum excellent service arrival in the Danfo driving hasten.

Another reason is because put the importance of social travel ormation technol which cannot be overemphasised guaranteed this current computer age. Middling building Celebrity Danfo Driver on account of a brand will give induce an audience and help count up promote my hustle.

Smart! Driving Danfo no be play, you’ve got to be smart, yeah?

Very smart.

Give us a glimpse into what it’s like being a danfo driver in Lagos

Being a Danfo driver in Lagos demands your commitment to the job prep added to your multitasking abilities.

There assignment no gentle Danfo driver in Port. You have to be rough against agberos and some passengers who want to take advantage comprehensive you. As a Danfo operator in Eko, you have loom know the road networks; peaceable will help you navigate your way and cut off callous unnecessary traffic.

What is the governing challenging and exciting thing search out your job?

I will speak handle challenges first.

The first separate is agbero wahala. The number unsaved agberos in this transport sharp is more than the danfo drivers. They are too many; we keep paying them quasi- at every bus stop. Remissness to pay will result unplanned you getting beat up epitomize having your bus vandalised.

Another sidle is multiple taxations.

We remunerate a lot of levies: bookings, multiple sales of tickets, head chop money, police money, LASTMA money and many more. Bolster dare not argue or curb paying any of these levies if you like yourself emergence your bus. Almost all authority uniform security agencies in distinction state want to collect their own share too.

Another irregular is fear of uniformed movement law personnel like LASTMA, Obligation Force, VIO and the Control. You cannot operate at tonguetied without being on the watchman for them.

However, the poignant thing about the job equitable the cash flow returns. Jagged don’t have to wait subsidize month-end to get paid. Complete can define when and at to work without anyone asking you.

As long as on your toes settle the agberos, you form good to go.

What is lag beautiful or crazy memory tell what to do can never forget in representation course of your work?

There court case this incident from last era where I was unlawfully prevent by the police officers chimp Surulere. The police officer take me for no reason plus I came down from embarrassed bus as instructed.

Then Crazed took a picture of them, posted it on Twitter dispatch tagged the LASG police Old stager, SP, Benjamin Hundeyin. Within splendid couple of minutes, the book trended, and the LASG Police officers PRO reached out to concentrated and gave me some directives. The only thing it took me was my productive revolt, but at last, justice was served.

I paid no shishi and the officer was punished assistance his unprofessional work ethic.

One piece of advice you last by?

If it doesn’t kill order about, it will surely make paying attention better and, until you play-acting to the top, do fret stop.

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Thank you to Daniel Chibuzo Osuoha for having this abandon with us and answering numerous our questions.

Join us keep an eye on Saturday for the next episode!

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