Twenty-three-year-old videographer, Onyinyechi Nwachukwu, popularly known online as Darkskinned Ella, speaks to GRACE EDEMA about the motivation behind her videos at BRT stations, the harassments she experienced while filming, and the response from the authorities following the viral clips What prompted the idea of the 100 Days BRT Challenge you have been documenting online? I started the 100 Days BRT Challenge because life in Lagos can be very stressful. I personally struggle a lot trying to balance my daily routine. The idea began when I decided to document one of my struggles—waking up very early in the morning to go to work, returning home late, and then repeating the same routine the next day. As a full-time 9-to-5 worker and content creator, my days are very demanding. So, I decided to document 100 days of my life to show the reality of my daily experiences and struggles in Lagos State. Sometimes, I don’t post a full vlog every day. For example, the post I shared yesterday (Wednesday) was not a full vlog but just a clip showing one of my struggles. Whenever I post something like “Day 16,” it usually refers to a complete vlog showing my full day—from when I leave the house in the morning until I return home at night. Yesterday’s (Wednesday) post was simply highlighting a particular situation I faced. What exactly happened on Wednesday that led to the harassment in the video? It actually began the day before. On Monday, I made a video which later went viral. On Tuesday, a woman approached me and said she didn’t want me to continue making those videos. She claimed her superiors had asked her to warn me to stop recording. I asked her why I should stop, but she didn’t give me any clear explanation. I told her I couldn’t stop because documenting my experiences is part of what I do. For instance, whenever I spend more than five minutes in a queue, I usually record the situation because it reflects my daily struggles in Lagos. Then on Wednesday (March 11), she confronted me again. She threatened to seize my phone, and asked me to leave the queue and go to another one at the motor park. She insisted that I should stop making videos. I told her she had no right to seize my phone or dictate what I could record. I believe I have the right to document my own experiences and challenges in Lagos. At that point, she tried to grab my phone, and that was when the harassment started. Despite that, I continued recording because my aim was simply to show how long the queue was and raise awareness about the situation. However, I later realised that some people felt uncomfortable because their faces appeared in the video. I understand their concerns now. Some said it invaded their privacy, which was never my intention. My goal was only to show the reality of the long queue and share my struggles. I simply wanted to speak up about what many people experience daily. Were you injured during the argument? No, I wasn’t. You mentioned earlier that some people accused you of invading their privacy. How do you feel about this? First of all, I’m not shocked or surprised that people are not supporting me. I already understand how people can be, so I never really had any expectations from anyone. My main goal was simply to create awareness. Although a few people encouraged me, many others were against what I was doing. Later, I tried to understand why that might be the case. But regardless of the reactions, it did not discourage me or make me back down because my priority was not necessarily getting people’s support; it was about raising awareness. In fact, the situation even made me stronger. While some people around me opposed what I was doing, many people online supported and encouraged me, and that motivation helped me continue. Did anyone explain why they were uncomfortable with what you were doing? Yes, actually, on Wednesday, a lady and a man explained that the main reason was because their faces appeared in the videos. Before then, I had been wondering why people reacted the way they did. I kept asking myself: Aren’t we all facing the same problem? Why isn’t anyone speaking up? When the lady and the man spoke to me, they said that if I wanted to make such videos, I should get people’s consent first. I even asked them how that would be possible when there are sometimes hundreds of people in the queue. I wondered if they expected me to stand with a microphone and announce that I was about to record a video. However, their explanation made me reflect. I realised that perhaps I could take other measures, such as blurring people’s faces when posting the videos. But honestly, I’m not completely sure if that was the only reason for the reactions. Some people might have been uncomfortable, others might have been tired or frustrated, and there could be other reasons as well. Still, based on what they told me directly, the main issue was that their faces appeared in the videos. What is the name of the bus stop you did the recordings, and how long do you usually wait there for transportation in the morning and evening? On a good day, the longest I might wait is about one hour. But on bad days, I can spend three hours or even more waiting for a bus. There are buses going to different places—some go to Oshodi and some go to the Island. I usually stop at my workplace, which is before the Island. That’s where I work. The issue is that sometimes the authorities don’t seem concerned enough about commuters. For instance, yesterday (Wednesday) when I made those videos, some BRT buses were chartered for an event. I don’t know exactly what event it was, but the buses were taken away for it, and no one seemed to consider the people who needed them to get to work. Meanwhile, many commuters were left standing in queues for hours, which is very frustrating. Do you think your campaign has brought about any change? Earlier you mentioned that some people were thanking you. How was the situation this (Thursday) morning? Yes, there has been some feedback. Yesterday Thursday), LAMATA released a memo explaining that they would provide more buses and also advising me to stop filming people’s faces. That was one development. Secondly, I received a call from the Commissioner for Information. He spoke with me, and assured me that the issues would be addressed. He also said the lady who tried to harass me would be reprimanded and that more buses would be provided. He advised me to stop the videos for now since awareness had already been created and they would work on resolving the situation. This morning, I actually saw buses moving along the route. However, I didn’t use the BRT today because of safety concerns. My mother and others advised me to take an Uber instead. While passing through my usual bus stop, I noticed several buses operating there. Later, when I checked Twitter, many people were tagging me and thanking me. I had posted earlier in the morning, and some commuters said buses were also provided in their areas. However, I feel this might be temporary and could stop after a while. That’s why I made another video stating that if buses stop coming again, I will continue documenting the situation. I may blur people’s faces, but I won’t stop speaking about the issue. As I said earlier, if they want me to stop making the videos, then they should ensure there are enough buses for commuters. If I get to the queue and spend more than five minutes without seeing a bus, I will document it and post it. How did you feel about the harassment and intimidation you experienced—the shouting, the threats? Honestly, it was a terrible experience. Before the harassment even started, my younger sister insisted on coming with me because she felt something might happen. I didn’t have any friend nearby at the time, so she followed me, and I’m grateful she did. At least I had someone there who could support me—maybe hold my bag or help in any way if something happened. The truth is that I was scared; I was definitely scared. But despite the fear, I didn’t stop because I believed God would protect me. Also, what encouraged me was the belief that Nigerians would support me. I know there are both good and bad people, but I trusted that many people would stand up for me. Because I’ve been making videos for some time, I already have a community and supporters who follow my page, so I knew I wasn’t completely alone. I had faith, my family’s support, and the encouragement of my followers, and that helped me continue. Even after my sister left, when I boarded a bus, a man came to harass me. At that moment I didn’t know anyone there, and it was possible that people could gang up against me. But fortunately, some people stepped in and held the man back. So, yes, I was scared, but I tried to stay strong and stand my ground. That was basically how I handled the situation. Are you still going to do this again if there is no improvement? Definitely! If they stop providing buses and the situation returns to the way it was, I will continue making the videos. Tell me about yourself? I am a content creator and also work as a videographer in a 9-to-5 job. At the moment, I am preparing to begin my NYSC. How old are you? I am currently 23 years old and will turn 24 in July. Were you born in Lagos? Yes, I was born in Lagos. Finally, what would you like to say to those who supported you and others who didn’t support you—especially those who were shouting at you on Wednesday, but probably benefited from the availability of buses today? First of all, I want to say a very big thank you to Nigerians who supported me. Many people stood up for me, and I truly appreciate that encouragement. To those who did not support me, I also want to say thank you. Sometimes challenges or opposition only make a person stronger. Even though some people were against what I was doing, I remained focused on my purpose, and it motivated me to keep going. To the government, I want to say thank you for providing buses for commuters. However, I sincerely hope that this improvement will be sustained and not just be temporary.