The question is often asked, how much does a Keke Napep driver (Commercial Tricycle) make daily in Lagos does. According to research, Keke drivers make as much as 7,000 – 10,000 naira daily, working for 10 – 15 hours especially in an environment with a high turnout of human traffic.
Usually, many operators in this sector venture into the business on hire purchase, making deliveries to the owners of the Tricycle on a daily basis. However, they make much more once they become owners of the vehicles themselves.
Females in the tricycle transport business
In recent times, the Tricycle transport business has seen more females becoming operators and drivers in the sector once dominated by males. Despite the hazards associated with business, there is hardly a Commercial Tricycle park in lLagos today without atleast one or two female drivers.
Business 360 News met with a couple of such female Keke Napep drivers recently and some shared their experiences in the business saying they enjoying some privileges as female operators in the sector.
Mrs. Eunice Lucky, who plies Ayobo and Iyana Ipaja axis in Lagos, said she decided to venture into driving the tricycle about four months ago.
According to her, she lost her husband in 2018 and having tried other options for survival, this seems to offer her a better deal compared to the idea of trading where she needs capital to stock up her shop with goods. And with three children to raise, trading was completely out of the question for her.
‘’ Ever since I started this business as a Keke driver, things have been going well for me and my children although it is stressful. ‘’
According to her, it is a risky venture fraught with many challenges especially the hazards of driving on our Nigerian roads. She says however, Ladies in the business do enjoy lots of privileges and considerations from the male folk.
“I only pay N1, 000 levy daily. Also, apart from an average of N6000 that I make daily, area boys do not harass us, while bus and private car drivers consider us when they see us on the road,” she said.
Also, Mrs. Elizabeth Onu, who plies the Agege Ikeja area in Lagos, said she was encouraged into the business by her husband who bought her the tricycle. According to her, she is a mother of four, and had ventured into petty trading initially, but she could not cope with the business as the profit she made was not enough to support to take care of the family.
“My husband has been very supportive, he bought me this tricycle and he also taught me how to maintain the vehicle. Today, things are taking shape in the family because I am also contributing in the house,” she added.
Another rider, Temitope Balogun, who operates in Baruwa Ipaja inside in Lagos, told Business 360 News that initially, when started commercial tricycle transport business, she did not have the confidence as she was afraid people would laugh at her.
‘’But to my greatest surprise, the praises and encouragement of passengers and even from other men in the garage kept me going. Today, I have confidence in this business’’.
She said many prefer to ride in her tricycle, believing as a woman, she would be more careful and diligent and this gives me a lot of courage. ‘’ And I do this job with pride because what I get puts food on my table and I also support my husband with the money I generate.
She appealed to the state government to repair the roads, saying it affects the business especially cost of maintaining the tricycles.
