Danfo drivers are the kings of Lagos roads. They reign supreme. Nobody drags the road with them and comes out unscratched. They know they are feared, they know they are crazy. They know the madness that exists in major Lagos roads is as a result of their activities on the roads. And they don’t care.
I’m sure you must have heard that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks? For danfo drivers, it is out of the abundance of their hearts, their hands and legs exhibit the madness you see on the roads. There’s war raging in their minds. What you see on the roads is an expression of that war.
Somebody once said that all danfo drivers are from the same generation and possess similar DNA. Or are there things on the roads that make them behave alike?...
If you are like many others who still wonder why danfo drivers behave the way they do; you may wish to stop wondering. In this piece, I have attempted to answer that question.
Welcome to inside mind of danfo drivers, Lagos roads Almighties!
“The roads na our own”
Danfo drivers have this belief that the roads belong to them. The roads were constructed for them and them for the roads. That explains why they are always appear to be in a contest with other road users including their fellow yellow bus drivers. On the road, danfo drivers are never wrong. They can only admit guilt if their victim could muster superior argument or could show overwhelming evidence. The kind of evidence that even the blind could see. ”The roads na our own” mentality is prevalent on all roads in Lagos but very prevalent on roads like Ikorodu road ,Mile12 – Oshodi road, Volks, Agric, Mushi, Ilasa and in almost all the areas with high population density.
“Private car drivers no smart”
Danfo drivers believe both in thought and in words that other road users are dull. Otherwise why do you think they are always fond of pulling stunts and ever looking for ways to maneuver ‘Oga madam drivers’? It irritates them looking at private car owners slowing down or ‘pampering’ their cars as they always love to put it. “Oga madam comot that thing for road jor” is the danfo drivers way of saying you are not smart enough on the road.
“Private car owners like to show”
Believe it or not, danfo drivers see your car as a tool of oppression. Some of them would swear with their lives that you stole the money with which you bought your car. One once said in anger “thieves, no be money wey you thief you use buy that car?”It is a predominant thought. It is what fuels their attitude on the roads. To express their angst, you hear them shout “commot that thing for road” or “commot that pure water for road”
“Nothing dey happen! pata pata na abeg e go take.”
One danfo driver said one day “oga, leave that matter. Pata pata na abeg ego chop” For some strange reasons, most of these yellow bus drivers think they can get away by merely apologizing to their victims. That is what they think. That ultimately affects how they behave on the roads.
“The faster we go, the faster money dey enter”
Average danfo driver has penchant for speed.They believe the faster they travel, the more passengers they are able to pick on the road thereby make more money. To make more ‘turns’, danfo driver throws caution into the winds and drives at some neck breaking speed. Don’t even bother to preach road safety; they don’t listen to such ‘crap’. In their minds, they believe there are some imaginary passengers always waiting for them at every bus stop.
