I had some experiences with Agberos on Abuja roads that had me thinking. The first was at where it is called Nyanya Under Bridge, Abuja, in 2021. I drove to pick a friend visiting Abuja who waited for me at the spot near the motor park that was bombed during the rush hour of April 14, 2014, killing many people.
Just when my visitor opened the door, some Agberos pounced on my steering holding it very tight. I wanted to shout but held my cool realising they are touts. They started questioning me. “Why are you picking passengers here?” and all sorts of questions. One said, “Don’t you know this park was bombed by Boko Haram?” claiming I was a risk. That was when I boldly replied. “Did Boko Haram give you notice before bombing the park?” I don’t know when Agberos became security experts. To cut story short, they said they will take me to their office but we ended up at a POS and I parted with N2000.
The second incident was in October 2025 at top of Area 1 bridge in Abuja. It was a Sunday and to pick a member of our ethnic association for a meeting at Chika along the Airport Road. I was aware of the notoriety of Area 1 Agberos. Being a Sunday, I was really worried but an intuition warned me not to off my car engine. I parked off the road on the shoulders. In less than one minute, from the side mirror, I saw a lanky man trying to cross the road to the median but my inner self told me “This am na Agbero”. And he was. Just then, mid road, he turned and rushed towards me. I accelerated towards him too and had no apologises to crush him legs. Come on what has Agbero to do with a vehicle waiting to pick somebody at a appropriate place, not obstructing traffic, nothing. Though I fled the seen, I honestly would have smashed his clumsy legs.
I have been worried about the transport system of Abuja, the menace of Agberos and crisis of “one chance”. I can’t imagine why Abuja of all federal capital cities, will tolerate the presence of Agberos directing things. Haba!
One thing for sure, the federal government and the FCT Administration have woefully failed at providing a reliable transport system for the Federal Capital city of Abuja status. In fact, transport system is nil in Abuja.
At a point, there was the London buses and London styled taxis but instead of improving on them, all went under and no administration cared to revamped them. Too bad.
If not, how can Agberos be controlling things in Abuja? The administration should establish a special traffic control personnel unit to oversee the transport system of the federal capital. They can be highly trained personnel in uniform to give them a semblance of some paramilitary authority to do away with members of NURTW or NARTO or whatever road personnel in existence.
Between September and October, 2025, I had an opportunity of an ad hoc job within the Three Arms one of Abuja and saw the shameful experiences of commuters especially civil servants going to Nyanya-Mararaba-Masaka and beyond axis. I was stunned to watch civil servants waiting for long periods not to bound even rickety coaster buses, but open unsafe pick-up vehicles with many just hanging without anything to hold on. This is really absurd and unacceptable.
I am not surprised that many commuters take to other transportation alternatives leading to unfavourable circumstances especially victims of “One chance”.
Just in January, 2026, Barrister Princess Chigbo Nwamaka – a lawyer and former treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja Branch, was murdered after unknowingly boarding a vehicle operated by “one-chance” robbers along the Kubwa Expressway. She was reportedly assaulted and pushed out of the moving vehicle, dying from her injuries. Also, Chinemerem Chuwumeziem – a nurse and healthcare worker, was killed by suspected “one-chance” robbers after boarding what she thought was legitimate transport after work. Her body was found by the roadside the next day.
These are just a fraction of the unpleasant circumstances commuters face in Abuja and the administration seems not to bother and redefining the city’s transport system.
A better transport system for Abuja can be done and movements can be safe and assured. Commuters in Abuja are going through Hell and this narrative must change as I don’t want any Weed-induced Agbero to harrass me anymore. Na so I see am.
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