Veteran Nollywood actor, Sunday Afolabi has broken his silence on the circumstances that pushed him into driving a commercial minibus, popularly known as korope, after a viral video showing him calling out to passengers sparked concern among fans and colleagues.

Speaking during an interview on the Talk to B show, hosted by actress Biola Adebayo and aired on Tuesday, the veteran performer opened up about how financial hardship, distance from the film industry, and a series of setbacks had reshaped his life in recent years.

The actor, whose career stretches back to 1970 when he joined the Adelove Theatre Troupe as a drummer before later becoming a familiar face through productions such as Owo Blow, Tales by Moonlight, The Village Headmaster, Super Story and Nowhere to be Found, revealed that he had tried several other trades whenever acting failed to provide enough income, including tailoring and solar installation.

He said he eventually sold his car for one hundred and eighty thousand naira to buy a second hand motorcycle after both acting roles and his photography business dried up, and turned to driving passengers in a minibus to earn an honest living, insisting he would rather do hard labour than beg for food.

He recounted an emotional encounter with a stranger who recognised him as a television star and questioned why he was living in such hardship, telling him to return to the city if he could not find work in his new environment. Afolabi appealed for help with accommodation closer to central Lagos and a reliable vehicle, saying he would gladly use a good car for ride hailing work and would stop calling passengers into a minibus if such support came through, stressing that there was no shame in earning a living through any legitimate job.

He also expressed gratitude to his wife for standing by him through the difficult period.

His story adds to a growing list of accounts from veteran Nigerian entertainers detailing severe financial and health struggles in recent times, including veteran actress Jumoke George, who recently revealed she had been homeless for six years while battling health challenges.