Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is challenging Nigerian youths to take pride in jobs they often reject at home but embrace while living abroad.
During a speech at the FCT Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Programme in Abuja, Wike addressed the hesitation many Nigerians have toward certain jobs, specifically taxi driving.
Speaking to a crowd in Garki, Abuja, on Thursday, Wike said, “Taxi driving is a noble means of livelihood and should be embraced to make a decent income.”
Wike highlighted the hypocrisy he sees among some Nigerians, pointing out that many who reject taxi driving jobs in Nigeria are quick to take up similar work in foreign countries.
As part of the FCT’s new youth empowerment initiative, Wike handed over 80 brand-new cars to young Nigerians, encouraging them to use the vehicles as taxis.
He emphasized that the government provided these cars without any financial cost to the beneficiaries.
“They are not paying a dime,” he stated, explaining that the initiative is meant to help the youth feed their families while also reducing transportation costs within Abuja.
“Abuja should compete with other cities in the world,” Wike added, underscoring his vision to make the nation’s capital a modern, accessible city.
Wike touched on a societal stigma in Nigeria, where jobs like taxi driving are often looked down upon.
“What you will see on social media is that he wants them to be taxi drivers,” he said, addressing potential critics of the program.
He urged young people to view taxi driving as a respectable occupation, citing examples of Nigerians abroad who proudly work as taxi drivers.
“Many Nigerians reject taxi driving here but are proud to do it in cities like London, Houston, and Paris,” Wike remarked.
The minister explained that people tend to boast about relatives abroad who support them financially, yet they fail to acknowledge the hard work behind that support.
“Nigerians at home will say, ‘My uncle is in London’ or ‘My uncle in Houston sent us $200,’ but that uncle makes his money as a taxi driver,” he said, calling on Nigerians to change their perspective on such jobs.
Beyond empowering young drivers, Wike announced a significant security plan aimed at improving the safety of public transportation within Abuja.
To combat issues like kidnapping and “one-chance” robberies, Wike revealed that from January 2025, all commercial vehicles must be profiled by security agencies.
“Most of the Keke Napep and motorcycles are informants,” Wike stated, expressing concern about the involvement of some operators in criminal activities.
The profiling process will ensure that all commercial drivers in Abuja are identified and approved by security agencies.
The new security guidelines will extend to all forms of public transport in Abuja, including taxis and buses.
Wike explained that this measure is intended to increase public confidence in the safety of the city’s transportation system.
“We will take the vehicle number, the name of the driver, and other details so everyone can feel confident about the vehicle they are entering,” Wike said.
He clarified that come January, only vehicles painted in Abuja’s official color and carrying approved drivers will be allowed to operate within the city.
“Nothing like using any vehicle on the road. No, we won’t allow that,” he declared.
The minister’s statements were met with applause from the crowd, many of whom expressed gratitude for his commitment to making Abuja safer.
