Ride-hailing drivers in Lagos are issuing a warning to global platforms like Uber, Bolt, inDrive, Lagride, and Rida that they may switch to homegrown alternatives if their longstanding demands are not addressed.
The warning was issued by Steven Iwindoye, the spokesperson for the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), during a press briefing on Friday.
According to Iwindoye, drivers are pushing for better pay, enhanced safety for both drivers and passengers, a cut in commission rates to just 5%, and full recognition of their rights and welfare as workers.
“If these companies refuse to listen, we will migrate en masse to locally developed ride-hailing platforms that are open to fairer treatment. Three such apps are already active, and our union is also working on launching its own,” he said.
He criticised the major platforms for putting profits above the dignity and well-being of the drivers who power their businesses.
The app-based drivers in Lagos staged a 24-hour protest on May 1, 2025, to express frustration over issues such as high commissions, unstable income, poor working conditions, and unilateral policies like facial recognition mandates and sudden account deactivations.
The union claims that repeated attempts to engage with the ride-hailing companies have been ignored, leaving them no choice but to intensify their resistance.
Iwindoye referenced the recent May Day protest, during which drivers halted operations for 24 hours, as a turning point in the struggle for fairer labour practices in the ride-hailing sector.
He also revealed that the union has submitted a formal petition to the National Assembly and is preparing to petition the Lagos State House of Assembly and other relevant bodies.
Plans are also underway to announce a date for picketing the offices of the ride-hailing companies, aimed at ramping up pressure until their demands are met.
“This is only the beginning,” Iwindoye said. “We will keep pushing until both the companies and the government take us seriously.”
