Based on these doctrines and his hope to become a banker after finishing school up to the university level, Mohammed leaves his home at 6 am to engage in the risky job of cleaning vehicles windscreens during traffic hold-ups on busy Abuja roads.
Clutching a long windscreen wiper between his shoulder and neck, he dips his left hand into his pocket, retrieves the cleaning solution and applies it onto the windscreen. He returns the container to his pocket, unclenches the wiper and commences the cleaning of a vehicle’s windscreen caught up in a hold-up. After the brief job, he walks round to the driver’s seat expectantly, for his payment, which he is not very certain he will get.
This is a normal routine for Mohammed. He can be seen daily at a busy junction in Jabi District of Abuja, at peak traffic periods, usually in the mornings and in the evenings, cleaning car windscreens for money. When cars stop at the traffic lights, Mohammed and other people who are engaged in this kind of business rush into the road to quickly clean windscreens.
When the traffic light turns green and the cars start moving, the cleaners’ dash off the road. This is a trade that requires the dexterous use of both arms. But Mohammed, who is in his early teens, has got only one, but manages to clean just fine.
According to his mother, he lost his right arm at about the age of six, while operating a grinding machine. They tried to save the arm, but in the end, it had to be amputated. Since then life has not been the same. But his limitation notwithstanding, Mohammed is determined to struggle and contribute towards his upkeep.
Mohammed says he doesn’t like working on the streets, but he has no choice. Speaking in Pidgin English, he says there are many dangers on the road and he has to be very careful. “Motor don jam one of my friend for another junction, break him hand.”
Also, many times, people don’t pay after their windscreens have been cleaned. “E dey pain me small, when dem no pay, but I no fit do anything.”
On a very good day, he makes almost one thousand naira. Mohammed would like to continue going to school, up to university level, and become a banker in future. But to go that far, he needs help. His father, Mr. Sani Lawal operates a commercial tricycle, commonly called Keke Napep. He noted that with restrictions on the tricycle operations in some parts of the city, the earnings from his trade are barely sufficient to support his family. People who know Mohammed commend him for his diligence. Miss Husseina, a trader at Jabi, says that even with one arm, he is very hardworking and responsible.
Mohammed’s story at once brings to mind the disturbing issues of poverty, child labour, and illiteracy, and at the same time, a young boy’s touching determination to be useful to himself and to the society. It also serves as a reminder to the fact that there is more work to be done by government, individuals and civil society groups to reduce poverty and child labour, and to promote basic education and economic empowerment.
In an environment where some people believe they have a right to be liabilities on others even when they have no reason to be, little Mohammed, underage and disabled, has chosen to be different. Mohammed quietly expresses hope that his lot will change one day, and he will get a chance to live a better life, get quality education and hopefully become a banker in future.
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Mohammed: A struggling disabled boy