Working Lives: The Area Boy Who Would Never Go Back to Selling Weed

The Parking Attendants (aka Area Boys) of Lagos Series 

If you live in Lagos, there’s no escaping the “area boys” aka “allright sir” who pester people for money around shopping malls and eateries. Sometimes looking unkempt, we suspect they could relieve us of our phones, wallets or bags. We talk to four of them about their lives. Many people see them as thugs and petty thieves but they regard themselves as people in the business of “parking” with the sometimes more lucrative side hustle of “hailing”. Many of them were apprentices in various trades before they branched into the parking business. They all have bank accounts, loving family members and dreams.

Working Lives: The Area Boy Who Would Never Go Back to Selling Weed

“I was always hanging around Fela shrine. I got to meet new people that introduced me to selling weed. I then started selling weed for a while. But the police came there and busted me. I was arrested. Thanks to my sister who looked for the money to pay for my bail, I got out. I had to stop the weed business.”

When did you get to Lagos?

I got to Lagos in 2011. I was living with my parents in Abeokuta. But something happened back home and I had to leave. My mom died. My step mom was big trouble. She was making life miserable for me. So I just had to leave, only God knows what would have happened if I stayed in the house with her. My dad was not even worried that I left. All he cared about was his new wife.

What school did you attend and when did you leave school? 

I only attended primary school o. I didn’t go further to secondary school. My mom died when I was in primary 4. She was the one paying my school fees

Tell me about your family?

I come from a family of 6. I am the third born. My older sisters are married. Both of them live in Abeokuta. My mom was the one catering for us. She was into garri business, delivering garri in bulk to customers across different states. Ever since she died, things changed. My dad didn’t care about us like our mother did. That was when my education stopped. My father told my siblings and me that he could not afford to send us to school. And my step mom was not making things any easier for us. I don’t know if that woman used jazz on him. Anyways, my elder sister took care of my younger ones and me. I started learning how to repair phones. I did that for about 3 years just before I left for Lagos.

When I came to Lagos, I had no one to stay with. I was always hanging around Fela shrine. I got to meet new people that introduced me to selling weed. I then started selling weed for a while. But the police came there and busted me. I was arrested. Thanks to my sister who looked for the money to pay for my bail, I got out. I had to stop the weed business. That’s how I went into the car parking business. It’s hard though but I would rather do this than start selling weed again. My experience in the police cell was a very bad one. I never want to experience that again.

Where do you live?

I live in Ogba. My girlfriend got me a one-room apartment there. It is not like she paid the whole rent o. I also added a little cash. I just moved in early this year. She is really trying to make me a better person. It is a one-room apartment, a face-me-I-face-you house. The normal Naija way. Things are not really comfortable there. But I am still grateful that I have a roof over my head.

Also Read: Working Lives: The Area Boy Still Wondering Why His Poor Father Married A Second Wife

 How much do you spend in a day? 

I spend between N250-N400, N500 at most. I always try to minimize the way I spend my money. There is no yafun yafun spending. One has to be wise.

How much do you make from helping people park cars?

I make as much a N4000 in a day, sometimes I even make more. It all depends on traffic for that day. I also get money from hailing people. In fact that brings me more money most times.

How did you survive the lockdown? Did you get any palliatives from the Government or a company?

My older sisters helped me. Ever since I left home they have always kept in touch. They are both doing very well. One of them recently sent me N5,000 for my upkeep. I was so happy. And I also got palliatives from APC people. Majority of us on the street survived on palliatives.

Have you ever opened a bank account?

Yes. When I came to Lagos I opened an account with Ecobank. My sister told me to open one so she could send me money once in a while.

What’s your best day like? 

Weekend still has to be best for me. It’s always busy and a lot of people come around. So I make more money during the weekend.

Who are your best customers?

Those are the club guys. I like it when they come around. I watch over their cars when they are parked in my space. They tip me well.

Also Read: Working Lives: The Area Boy Who Doesn’t Want His Son to Turn Out Like Him

How many hours do you work in a day? 

I mainly focus on night job. That’s when things are always booming. So I start working from 7pm until 4am or 5am in the morning when the clubbing is over.

Do you see a doctor when you are ill?

I wish. Since I was a kid I have been used to drinking agbo. Whenever I feel a bit down, I just mix one or two agbo together. And I am good to go.

How have you been protecting yourself from the Coronavirus?

Just the normal thing that everyone has been doing. Wearing my face mask, covering my face and social distancing. At first, I thought the whole coronavirus thing was joke. My guys and I would always say the government was just trying to make money from it. Not until I started seeing videos online. It’s so scary.

How have you survived with less traffic around the mall? 

Again, it’s all thanks to my older sisters. They support me a lot. They always make sure they send me money. They don’t want me to go back to selling weed. So they always try their best and send me money weekly or monthly. It depends on their pocket.

Do you have a girlfriend and are you looking forward to getting married?

Yes. I have a girlfriend. We see each other mostly during the weekend. She is always busy with her tailoring job during weekdays.