by Oge Okonkwo

The story of 32-year-old Pius Abayomi is one that will not inspire you.

A driver plying one of the major roads in Lagos, Abayomi was not born without legs but lost them in an accident which almost claimed his life.

Recounting his ordeal in an interview with a reporter from City People Magazine, Abayomi  said he was involved in a near-fatal accident.

“I was driving a danfo bus on April 3, 2011 by MayFlower Hotel close to Olorunsogo bus stop in Mushin. Suddenly the bus developed a fault I felt I could fix. I went down from the bus to the rear where the engine compartment is. While trying to fix my Danfo, another driver who was driving on top speed hit me against the rear of my bus and that was all I knew. I was rushed to the National Orthopaedic hospital Igbobi, Lagos. Two days after the accident my two legs were amputated. I was at Igbobi for four months. The operation, medication and physiotherapy cost me all my savings and I had to people seeking for financial assistance, in all it cost me about four million naira to get me out of the hospital.”

Abayomi was discharged from the hospital, although he was frustrated as he could no longer pay his bills and cater for his family he never gave begging a second thought but went ahead to join the physically challenged sportsmen at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

He finally met a friend after a long wait  who encouraged him to go back to his former profession, got a bus  for him and a car dealer who constructed metals to form a device which Abayomi calls ‘legs’ to aid him in his driving.

Although it has not been easy managing his disability, and still feels pain on the spot he was amputated, Abayomi says he is getting back to his old self.