A Nigerian man has recounted how a group of taxi drivers in Abuja attempted to take advantage of him after he got lost on his way to the Russian Embassy.
The narration shared by @Gen_Buhar explained that he was scheduled for an appointment at the Russian Embassy in Abuja by 11 a.m.
However, he mistakenly arrived at the United Nations office, which shares a similar building structure and painting with the Russian mission.
To his greatest shock, he met taxi drivers who were ready to milk his desperation to fill their pockets with the day’s earnings.
Appointment at Russian Embassy
He narrated, “For the first time today, I realized that the problem of Nigeria is not leadership per say, but the opportunists nature of its citizens. I was scheduled for an appointment at the Russian Embassy Abuja by 11am today, and somehow, I missed my way to the Embassy.
Instead of the Russian Embassy, I found myself at the UN Office which had the same structure painting with the Russian Embassy. I checked my time and it was 10:42am.”
Oppotunistic Taxi drivers
“Looking frustrated, I asked for directions and the security guards directed me to a cluster of Taxi Drivers at the opposite side. I crossed to the other side and immediately about five of the Taxi Drivers rushed towards me.
“Oga where you dey go”? They asked simultaneously “Russian Embassy” I responded “Ahhhhh! Russian Embassy. E far o” one of the men responded. “Is about two hours drive from here” the man added “How much will you take me there”? I asked “Oga na 30k o” he responded My heart skip.
I was pleading and negotiating with this man to please accept 20k as I was running out of time but he stood his ground.”
Rescue Mission
“A Hausa man hawking orange who was following our conversation, came behind me and whispered in Hausa “Dan dai kana sauri ne, Amman akasama zaka iya zuwa Russian Embassy” (if not because you are in a haste, you can trek to Russian Embassy).
“The orange hawker then instructed me to follow him. I checked my time and it was 10:49am. We trekked few miles, take just two turns and crossed over an overhead bridge. Boom! We are at the front of Russian Embassy. I checked my time and it was 10:57am.
“I could not help but hug the man tightly until the orange on his stray start falling. We chatted for few minutes. He told me he came all the way from Ingawa Local Government in Katsina State.
I told him I am from Funtua local government in Katsina State. We quickly exchange contact and I dash off. While waiting for my turn to be invited into the Embassy, my mind traveled back to the Taxi Driver I was desperately begging to accept 20k. Some of us are worse than the leaders we complain everyday about. It’s just opportunity we lack.”
For the first time today, I realized that the problem of Nigeria is not leadership per say, but the opportunists nature of its citizens.
I was scheduled for an appointment at the Russian Embassy Abuja by 11am today, and somehow, I missed my way to the Embassy. Instead of the… pic.twitter.com/GhXbuKadTI
— June12 Mandate (@Gen_Buhar) September 19, 2025
Public reactions
AdetolaBaros reacted: “Abuja is more worse than Lagos state when it comes to extorting people (strangers), Daylight robbery and stabbing, phone snatching and all other crisis you could think of. Back in the year 2020, I had worse experiences about that place when I was scheduled for an appointment at the TURKISH embassy, And I can boldly attest to this story you just shared. A place that is meant to be the capital and the front face of Nigeria 🇳🇬.”
Engr_Ashile said: “This remind of my nysc day in osun state, from oke gada to awo was N50 then only for one new corper that just redeploy to tell us that the bike man charge her N700, everybody on that cds ground wan madt. Some people are wicked than devil.”
AfolabiDewale opined: “I say this severally. Most of us just need little power to unleash the other side of us. It’s depressing for real 🤦🏻♂️.”
tjawiee noted: “I’m glad you are getting familiar with the real issue. Everyone is hoping to get to the top and unleash their evil game on the rest of the people at the bottom. There’s absolutely no way out of this 🥲.”