How Hardship Forced Me Into Minibus Driving- Actor Sunday Afolabi
Veteran Nollywood actor, Sunday Afolabi, has broken his silence following a viral video showing him calling passengers into a minibus popularly called Korope, revealing how distance, financial hardship, and frequent accidents severely impacted his career and family life.
Speaking during an interview on the Talk to B Show, hosted by actress Biola Adebayo and aired on Tuesday, the veteran actor detailed the circumstances that led to his current situation.
Afolabi disclosed that his decision to relocate to Badagry, a suburban border community in Lagos State, to build a home within his limited budget inadvertently disconnected him from the central film industry in the state.
“I relocated to Badagry because I wanted to have a building of my own. As at that time, the little money I had could only buy me land in that area,” Afolabi explained. “Out of sight is out of mind, but the distance of the house to the city has been a barrier… The kind of job I do, you don’t really make much, and you struggle a lot.”
Recounting his sequence of financial setbacks, Afolabi shared how a lack of funds forced him to sell off his car, take up commercial cycling, and undergo various vocational trades to survive.
“I lost my Nissan Quest; I couldn’t afford to fix the shock absorber for almost two years,” he recalled. “I sold my Nissan Quest for N180,000 to settle some debts and buy a fairly used motorcycle… I was not used to motorcycling, so I kept falling,” he said.
The actor revealed that his work as a motorcycle rider ended after suffering major injuries, including falling into a pothole during a plumbing errand that severely affected his jaw, followed by another crash that left him hospitalised for nearly two weeks.
Refusing to resort to begging, Afolabi said he tried tailoring, solar panel installation, photography, and commercial bus driving.
“So, if I call myself a jack of all trades and master of all, there’s no mistake in it, because what I hate most in my life is to beg for food. I’ll rather do any legitimate job,” he declared.
Addressing the viral clip where he was seen loading a commercial minibus, Afolabi admitted that while public sympathy made him feel bad about how he was portrayed, he remains open to honest labour.
“People’s reaction to the video made me feel bad. Because people felt bad, I also felt bad that this is a wrong presentation of me to the world. It might be discouraging to anyone who wants to call me for a job, but I hoped for a positive impact,” he admitted. “Currently, the minibus is not working.”
Afolabi noted that acquiring a reliable vehicle for e-hailing services and relocating closer to the central parts of Lagos would enable him to reintegrate into the acting community and attend film locations conveniently.
“If I can get accommodation help, it will help me get acting jobs… If I can also get the help of a good car, Toyota brand or anyone, I wouldn’t mind, just a good car that I can use for Uber,” he appealed. “I’ll stop calling passengers into a minibus and strategically position myself as an Uber driver… There’s no shame in it,” he added.
Sunday Afolabi’s ordeal highlights a recurring trend of severe financial hardship, health crises, and housing instability among veteran Nigerian entertainers
Several veteran film stars and musicians have recently spoken out about their struggles. Notable among them is veteran actress Jumoke George, who revealed that she had been homeless for six years while battling health challenges and searching for her missing daughter. Following public outcry, she was reunited with her daughter and gifted a duplex, land, and an SUV by benevolent Nigerians.
Similarly, veteran actor Dele Odule recently opened up about the severe emotional and financial toll of the industry, revealing that he once priced his own casket during a period of profound frustration, while veteran musician Daddy Fresh lamented being bedridden and hallucinating for over two years due to a prolonged illness.
Afolabi, whose acting roots trace back to 1970 with Adelove Theatre Troupe and classic productions like Owo Blow, Madam Dearest, Super Story, and Village Headmaster, expressed deep appreciation to his wife for her steadfast loyalty, hoping his plea for housing and an e-hailing vehicle will help him rebuild his career.
