There is a special language for Nigerian Bus Conductors

If you have ever been in a commercial bus in a big city like Lagos, you will know that there is a unique language these bus conductors speak. The way their words are so aggressive with so many harsh words, like someone who just stepped on this brand new sneaker, and the fact that language always has something to do with cursing and shouting. Honestly, it will be fun if there were a dictionary for these words that they speak, just to get a feel of what it means.

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Once you get to the bus stop or park, you can hear their voice shouting already on the top of their lungs, CMS, costine, and you know that is the bus you ar looking for. If it is going your way, you hop on, and if not, you move to find one that is going your way. It can be interesting to know that I found it funny when a working-class friend of mine said he does not enter any bus in Lagos if the driver is not on his 2 by 2 paraga satchet. For those who are not familiar with this , it is a satchet alcohol. In my friend's defense, he said these are the ones always in a hurry and they tend to rush the passengers to get on board quickly, then they leave. When he uses this kind of buses, he is sure of getting to his destination in time especially in the morning when going to work.

What I found amusing about the language these Nigerian bus conductors and drivers have in common is the fact that they can use a certain word, syllable or even gesture to pass across a message and you as a frequent passenger you get to understand the meaning over time but if you are new to the city, also known as Johnny Just Come (JJC), you will get to understand it soon enough. They could use words like one chance or show you one figure. This means it is one passenger left for the bus to move or they could tell you wole Pele change, that means enter the bus with the exact bus fare.

These microsms are what contribute to the hustle and bustle in Lagos city. It is not without saying that most movies that depict a hustling environment taking place in Lagos, all then to depict this kind of setting of a passenger entrying a commercial bus or a worker leaving home early just for work. It is has even become a trend on tiktok when you get to see tiktokers creating videos about this hustle they are going through in Lagos. You can search for it on tiktok for videos about it for a better understanding.

One thing has made me to realize that every state and city in the country have their unique bus language and how they transport in the given state. I have been to a lot of states in Nigeria, thanks to chess, studies, and personal travels, and I can tell you one thing is for sure Lagos is the most hectic of them all. For example, there are less Yoruba speaking drivers and conductors in the public transport business in other state aside from Lagos. Things like these and are what contribute to the living setting in any given state.

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_{I am @samostically, a chess player and writer. I love to share the experience I have gained from different battles over the 64 squares and the knowledgeable insights from books I have read. But most importantly, I am a Midnight Owl and I founded the community Midnight Letters.}

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