A twenty-eight-year-old man Jamilu Abubakar, who is also an indigene of Funtua in the north-west state of Katsina is a daily fixture at a busy alleyway in Utako District, Abuja that connects to the highway leading to the popular Jabi Motor Park or Berger bus stop.
However, For two years, Jamilu has taken it upon himself to clean daily, the usually filthy pathway in spite of his poor health condition. This he does without requesting or expecting to be paid.
Jamilu holding a walking stick to support himself due to a deteriorating sore on his leg, which has made him sort of handicapped, notwithstanding his condition does the cleaning with one hand.
A report on Daily Trust, Jamilu, has had no formal education, speaking with Daily Trust correspondent, He disclosed that is long torturing leg pains started some 12 years ago where he worked at a public convenience as a cleaner and a car wash worker.
“The wounds on my legs started one day while I was lying down in a room. It came out like a boil and later it expanded to the other leg,” he said.
Revealing further, he said the deteriorating wound on his leg forced him to quit his then job as constant contact with water made his condition to worsen.
He, however, noted that at some point, help came his way from a foreigner who donated money through a local NGO to help with his treatment but unluckily, that intervention was short-lived as it didn’t bring succor to his predicament.
Although he could not provide the name of the foreigner who assisted him nor the NGO, Jamilu said: “I don’t have the woman’s contact because it was the people who came to me and they called the woman through a video call to show her my leg. After she saw the legs, she asked that I should be taken to the hospital.”
He explained that he was first taken to the Asokoro General Hospital, Abuja.
“When I started recovering, I was transferred to Zone 3 Wuse General Hospital. They started the treatment and not up to a year, then, there was an outbreak of cholera so they discharged me and since then I have been on my own.”
“They told me I should bear with the situation and to pray to God to provide someone else who will come to my aid as the first woman who was sending money has stopped.”
Jamilu, determined to make a life out of his situation while praying for help and with no means of survival, taught about engaging in petty business but felt the sore on his leg would deter potential customers should he engage in petty trade decided to sweep the alley daily.
The approximately 100 metres walkway is sandwiched between the popular inter- state transport company, ABC Transport and another building still under construction. It is the only available space pedestrians in the environment to connect to the nearest highway.
The dedicated you an who said his parents are poor and cannot take care of him solicits for help to treat himself as well as establish a business.
According to Jamilu, passers usually tip him N100 or N50 when they are passing and he is sweeping the alley.
Source: Daily Trust