‘Nigerians care for one another,’ Lebanese businessman recounts encounter with traffic officer
A Lebanese man doing business in Nigeria, Jimmy Khoury, has recounted a recent encounter with a traffic officer who saved his driver from losing his job, highlighting the bond Nigerians share.
Khoury, who shared his experience in a LinkedIn post on Monday, said the incident occurred on a trip to Ibadan, Oyo State.
He said he was traveling with his driver, identified as Sunday when an officer stopped their vehicle.
According to him, everything seemed normal until the officer pointed out that the car lacked a reflective sticker at the back, a violation of traffic regulations.
“Sunday quickly gathered the car documents and handed them over. The officer examined them and circled the car before returning with a serious expression,” Khoury wrote.
The officer, unimpressed with the absence of the sticker, insisted that the vehicle be towed to the station for further action, despite Sunday’s desperate pleas in Yoruba.
However, the officer was non-Yoruba and insisted on following the book.
Realising the gravity of the situation, Khoury decided to step in asking “why he was arresting us?”
The officer however explained that the lack of a reflection sticker was a serious offence.
Khoury attempted to resolve the issue amicably, but the officer was adamant that the vehicle would be towed, prompting him to take a different approach.
“I told the officer to take the car and that I would fire my driver immediately for his carelessness,” he recounted.
The businessman explained that this was a tactic to draw the officer’s attention and hopefully secure the release of the car without further complications.
His strategy worked, as the officer, shocked by the idea of Sunday losing his job, quickly changed his stance.
The officer, along with his colleagues, began pleading with Khoury to reconsider his stand.
“Please, Sir, don’t fire him. He has a family. The rule only came into effect this morning, there’s no way he could’ve known,” Khoury quoted the officer as saying.
After pretending to deliberate, Khoury agreed to let Sunday keep his job, much to the officer’s relief.
The officer then allowed them to leave, advising Sunday to get the required sticker as soon as possible.
Reflecting on the incident, Khoury said, “I realised how deeply Nigerians care for one another. It’s a bond you can only understand by living here.”
As they drove away, Sunday expressed his gratitude, saying, “This is Nigeria for you.”
