Okenyi Kenechi
Life in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory often gets tough. Since the economy tanked, many people have become homeless and only rest for the night in their cars.
It trend has become one of the choice reasons for disregarding Abuja boys who are said to be heavily dependent on single women for their survival.
It is not their faults per say. Getting a well-furnished apartment withing Abuja town has become increasingly expensive. Wages have not increased either. However, the wise ones move down into the hinterlands of Maraba, Nyanya, Kurudu, Kubwa and environs where houses are cheap.
But moving down to those areas also means that one will miss the bubbling nightlife that makes Abuja what it is.
Some of these boys do not have regular jobs. They hustle on the streets as house agents or realtors.
The business is not a thriving but they have to make ends meet. Sometimes, their situation is hopeless but how did they buy cars?
Used cars are cheap in Nigerian cities like Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt. Some get cars using hire purchase and stretch the payment over several months.
Having a car also accords one a bit of respect on the job. So it has become one of their signature poses.
The women, on the other hand, are more favoured on the job market which makes it easier for them to adapt in the hostile and expensive environment made possible by hostile politics.
Most Abuja boys depend on women for their daily bread. These women equally shoulder the burden of feeding these men and housing them.
It is a scary situation for young school leavers who rush to Abuja for greener pastures. They spend months toiling from one office to the other and at the end of the day, will join the realtor business that has been stretched.
