IS IT WORTH OWNING A CAR IN OGBOMOSHO?

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At first glance, the answer to the question is a big fat YES! I mean, why not? On some days when I have waited for a motorcycle or keke napep for close to 30 minutes under the scorching hot sun, I wish I had a car but on second thought, is it worth it? Please note that this question is not directed towards a family man who has a wife and kids to transport, rather this question is aimed at a bachelor or bachelorette, such as a house officer or student of Bowen University who considers owning a car in Ogbomosho.

Is it worth owning a car in Ogbomosho?

Before diving into the ‘cons’ of owning a car in Ogbomosho, there is one important ‘pro’ that should be considered and this is comfort. Simply put, owning a car is like being the sailor of one’s own ship. You control your movement at all times. You can decide to leave 10 minutes before an event, knowing that once you step into your car, you zoom off and arrive in time. Unlike when you leave 30 minutes before an event, praying that you immediately get public transport to take you to your destination at a fair price. An advantage but there can also be a twist to this exact illustration.

Disadvantages (cons) of owning a car in Ogbomosho

1. Ogbomosho is a Fairly Small Town

Compared to the neighboring cities of Ilorin and Ibadan, Ogbomosho is a small town, meaning that one can easily get from point A to B in record time with public transport. More so, for a student or house officer living in Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), one’s radius is quite small. You basically have all you need between the school gate and Taki roundabout, so your car ends up sitting idle for days except on the weekends when you decide to take a joy ride. A car sitting idle becomes a liability because whether you drive it or not, it requires maintenance and you see yourself spending so much money on something you are really not using.


2. Traffic Jam

A good number of us have been cut up in Ogbomosho traffic especially when they are fixing up the roads and it is no joke. Remember the illustration I gave earlier about leaving 10 minutes before an event in your car? Now imagine driving out and getting stuck in a traffic jam, you have no choice but to stay in your car and drive slowly, praying the traffic jam subsides. But for someone using public transport, he or she can easily board a motorcycle that will easily weave through traffic and once again the day is saved, thanks to the power puff motorcycles. Being the captain of your own ship, means you can not easily abandon ship.

3. Hike in Fuel Prices

A 2008 Toyota Corolla, the so-called Uber Corolla has a fuel tank capacity of 50-55 liters, meaning it would take about twenty five thousand naira (#25,000) to fill up the fuel tank with a liter of fuel costing five hundred naira (#500) and I doubt a full tank of gas is enough for a months ride. On the other hand, let us assume a student or house officer spends about five hundred naira (#500) on transport for 30 days of the month, the total amount spent on transport will come up to fifteen thousand naira (#15,000). The individual ends up saving about ten thousand naira (#10,000) every month. Money for enjoyment don set.

With these few points of mine, I hope that I have been able to convince and not confuse you that owning a car as a Bowen student or house officer in Ogbomosho would be merely a flex, as the ‘cons’ outweigh the ‘pros’. If you do not agree with this analogy, please air your views in the comment section. Thank you for reading and always remember to Turbo that engine!

If you are a big fan of car content, do yourself a favor and check out CruiserTv on YouTube, link - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtcxdit2FXHjf9ayT4BP7Sg

Comments

Anonymous said…
It would really be a flex but as you said the increase in fuel price, being a student and literally using half your allowance to fuel the car per month, not to talk about maintenance or if there’s a major issue with the car, even police wahala also. But it all comes down to finances, if you have just enough to maintain the car and still be able to go and on with your daily activities then it’s really going to be a flex.
June 23, 2023 at 6:49 AM
EBUNMIDE ADENIRAN said…
Exactly! You captured the whole essence of this post 🤲🏾 Thank you for this insightful comment
June 23, 2023 at 10:16 AM
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