This study examines Wua Iyogh vaa Iyogh , a Tiv expression meaning “destroy the Tvehicle as long as money is made” as a lens for understanding how Tiv commercial drivers in Benue State manage their vehicles and finances. The concept reflects a pattern in which drivers prioritize immediate income generation over vehicle sustainability.

Practices such as overloading, excessive vehicle use, and poor maintenance show how vehicles are treated as short-term income tools rather than long-term assets. The study adopts a qualitative analytical approach, focusing on drivers' beliefs, lived experiences, and every day practices. It combines Tiv cultural interpretation with psychological perspectives such as present bias, risk perception, and coping under uncertainty to explain why drivers continue practices that undermine long-term financial stability. Findings reveal that economic vulnerability among Tiv commercial drivers is shaped by interconnected cultural, social, and economic factors. An expressions like Wua Iyogh va aIyogh influence attitudes toward money and asset use, while peer norms within motor parks reinforce risky practices. Harsh economic realities and daily financial pressures further compel drivers to prioritize survival over longterm planning. The study also finds that traditional Tiv systems of communal accountability have weakened due to urbanization and the rise of a cash-based economy, transforming the expression into a practical survival strategy. The study concludes that solutions must be culturally grounded, combining financial education, institutional support, and contextsensitive policies to encourage more sustainable practices among drivers. Consequently, Wua iyogh va a iyogh has evolved from a cultural saying into a practical survival strategy.