The word change means different things to different people in different situations or circumstances. In the run up to the 2015 general elections in Nigeria, it was the slogan of choice for the then main opposition party with a manifesto to turn the country around towards a brighter future. However, the word could have an entirely different meaning when used in some other situations.
In the public transport system of Nigeria, it is the word of choice employed by transporters to inform prospective passengers to have the exact or something close to the amount it would cost to board a commercial bus to a specific destination. The exact sentence is
"Hope you have change"
There are variations though in the words preceding change in the sentence depending on the location within the country.
It is often a cause of disagreement between transporters and commuters. Hence it is commonplace to see commuters raining insults on bus drivers and conductors and vice versa due to "change" related matters. Funny enough a little bit of civility and mutual respect is all that is needed to avoid such scenarios. The fact that someone is a driver or a conductor does not make such person any less human than the passenger. The relationship between the drivers, conductors and passengers ought to be one of mutual respect as all parties benefit from the service being rendered. No party should gain unnecessary benefit at the detriment of the other.
As we saw previously in "tuketuke" there are still some good, considerate and well mannered drivers and conductors despite the presence of some Ill mannered and ill tempered ones amongst their lot.
Passengers too are not blame free as we have some Ill mannered ones too. There are even some who seem to derive pleasure in provoking drivers or conductors with their actions.
Let me give a scenario I boarded a mini bus the other day, when a passenger alighted he paid the driver but his fare was #50 short and he apparently knew of this challenge before boarding the vehicle but did not deem it fit to inform the driver then. The only polite thing he did which probably prevented trouble was that he humbly pleaded with the driver at the point of payment that what he had paid was all he had and the driver being a jolly good fellow obliged him without much fuss.
On the same trip ,the driver picked another passenger who jokingly offered to be his conductor to which the driver replied that he should submit his application for screening. At this point the passenger dropped a document on the dashboard, then enthusiastically & jokingly started asking other passengers for their fares announcing that he had started work. At this point the driver announced that the application screening process would last three days and hence the passenger couldn't commence work. We all had a good laugh.
Thereafter at some point the driver wanted to purchase some carrots , and from his accent it was clear that he was Igbo but he spoke to the man who was selling the carrots in Hausa to request for the quantity he wanted, paid and jokingly called the carrot seller Buhari's boy while zooming off. The carrot seller also took no offense as he collected his payment with a smile.
At another point the driver wanted to also purchase "Okpa", and he politely pleaded with the passengers about his intent (he could have as well not taken permission as some do) before slowing down to make his purchase. Before I eventually alighted we went by some speed bumps which jolted the passengers at the rear seat causing their heads to hit the roof of the vehicle. Jokingly one of the passengers asked the driver if his intent was to break our heads to which the driver jokingly queried if our intent was to damage the roof of his vehicle with our heads. Before I forget our driver allowed his self appointed conductor to feast on one of the carrots he bought when the passenger relocated to the front seat when the previous occupant alighted.
A word of advise on "change" palaver,is that to avoid embarrassment or drama while commuting with buses or taxis especially in Nigeria , try to board with your "change" and in situations where you don't have "change" politely inform the driver or the conductor or the driver-conductor before boarding.
Shukran
Danke
Merci
Gracias
ขอบคุณ
ধন্যবাদ
Спасибо
for reading.
See "tuketuke" tales of a Nigerian commuter via the link below
https://read.cash/@M3i/tuke-tuke-tales-of-a-nigerian-commuter-3014f400
Good one