Niger IDPs find succour in car wash, tea businesses

Many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Munya LGA of Niger State in Minna, the state capital, have joined car washing and tea businesses as “boys” to earn a living.

Nura Salisu, who works with a car washing centre and earns N1,000 daily, told our correspondent that, “We are still afraid of going back home because it’s a river that has stopped bandits from crossing to our communities in the Rafi axis.

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“However, I do go home every Friday and return to Minna on Sundays. Even those who have returned to work on their farms are in fear and the moment they finish harvesting their crops, the majority of them will leave their communities before the river dries off.”

Another IDP, Jibrin Mohammed, who works as a tea seller, popularly known as “mai shayi”, said he had been able to survive through hard times with what got from his boss.

Mohammed called for empowerment, saying, “If I can get capital, I will set up my own business,” adding that, “Apart from the tea business, I do other menial jobs.”

Meanwhile, City & Crime learnt that attacks have reduced in recent times because the criminals don’t have routes to follow.

Mohammed said, “During the rainy season, they hardly get any route to cross to our villages because of the river in Kulho.”