Diary of a Lagos Commuter: The money-changers are here
The other day, the driver of the vehicle I boarded stretched out a deformed, dejected and defaced 50naira note towards me. I refused to collect it. Then he said, “You no fit reject am o because na money I dey take buy am o!” Meaning: You cannot reject it because I also bought it with money.
As usual, my ears were itchy for more information so I probed further.
Me: Buy ke? Why?
Driver: The money (50 naira note) scarce so we dey buy am. Na 100 we dey pay on top 1,000 naira.
Me: Na wa o
Driver: Yes o, he go remove 100 from the 1,000, so na 900 go remain
Me: Who come dey sell am for una?
Driver: Na one man. He dey always come garage.
Me: So why you no dey reject the bad ones?
Driver: Haaa! Many people want the change na and the guy too go dey do shakara. If you say you no want, he go say make you comot. You no go dey get change again.
When I alighted I thought to myself, “the money-changers have found their way to the park as well!” And oh, I eventually collected a cleaner N50 note.