Fewer rides and longer waiting times were reported on Bolt and inDrive in Lagos on Monday, October 12, as e-hailing drivers began an indefinite strike organised under the umbrella of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON). The action is intended to draw attention to drivers who say their earnings have continued to drop in the face of skyrocketing operational costs and other financial obligations.

Passengers using the e-hailing apps felt the impact quickly. Chidozie, an inDrive user, said the app showed no available rides for two hours and called on the companies to listen to the striking drivers.

“inDrive, please pay attention to your drivers. They are currently on strike. Currently, there is no available ride. I have placed a ride on the app for two hours now and still no driver. What is happening? Pay attention to your drivers,” he said.

Other users reported waiting times of as long as 16 to 20 minutes, along with a surge in fares caused by the scarcity of available drivers.

Comrade Jaiyesimi Azeez, Chairman of the union's Lagos Council, called on drivers to keep staying off the apps in pursuit of the action's objectives.

“Today is Day 1 of our industrial action and shutdown. I am using this opportunity to beg every e-hailing driver in Lagos: If you cannot join us, please stay home and park your vehicle. We do not want a situation whereby you will be wasting your fuel because, whether you like it or not, you will be ordered, and once you come, we will be educating and telling drivers about the need and why they have to join this struggle,” he said.

Azeez added that the shutdown and protest are about taking power back from app companies such as Bolt and inDrive and letting them know that drivers are in control of the industry. He noted that drivers contribute 95 per cent to the industry, which he argued means they should have a say in how their services are priced.

“The app companies will no longer determine the price of our service. They are middlemen, and middlemen cannot tell us how to sell our services. We bring the vehicle, we buy the fuel, we face everything, we take the risks. Drivers are dying and wailing. So comrades, come out, support and participate so that at the end of the day you will be glad that you did. We are winning this war this time around,” he said.

AUATON's indefinite shutdown of Bolt and inDrive

AUATON announced a mega protest in October that will see the Bolt and inDrive apps shut down in Lagos. According to the union, the protest is intended not only to draw massive attention to the plight of e-hailing drivers and other app workers, but also to bring the country's two major apps, Bolt and inDrive, to the table.

The union cited rising operational costs, vehicle financing obligations, fuel expenses, maintenance costs, insurance, data subscriptions, government levies and other daily expenses that have placed enormous financial pressure on drivers. It said the app companies have refused to adjust their existing fare and commission structures to reflect these realities, creating serious concerns about the sustainability of the profession.

Chief among AUATON's demands is a fare review, with the union insisting that app companies must adjust fares to reflect prevailing economic realities and actual cost of operating a vehicle.

It also demanded a substantial reduction in commissions, targeting no more than 10 per cent, subject to negotiations and a transparent explanation of any additional charges or deductions. The union further demanded an end to fare and commission manipulation, stating that any significant change to fares, commissions, subscriptions or other financial terms should be preceded by meaningful consultation with driver representatives.

Taken together, the demands go to the core economics of app-based ride-hailing: what a trip pays, what share the platform keeps, and how much say drivers have before any of those terms change.

Bolt calls for dialogue

Ahead of the planned protest, ride-hailing company Bolt called for dialogue with AUATON to achieve meaningful progress. The company said it has noted the concerns raised by the Lagos State Council of AUATON regarding driver earnings, operating costs, platform charges, transparency and welfare. Bolt said it recognises the economic pressures facing drivers and understands the importance of maintaining a sustainable environment in which drivers can continue to earn and operate successfully.

Commenting on the planned engagement, Bolt's Head of Regulatory and Policy in Africa, Weyinmi Aghadiuno, said that because drivers are central to the ride-hailing ecosystem, the company recognises the economic realities they are navigating.

“We take the concerns being raised seriously and believe the best way forward is through constructive, open and solution-oriented engagement. Our focus is on listening, understanding the issues and identifying practical ways to strengthen the driver experience while ensuring that ride-hailing remains safe, reliable and accessible for everyone. We are committed to building a sustainable ecosystem in which drivers, passengers and platforms can continue to thrive,” she said.

With the strike billed as indefinite, attention now turns to whether Bolt's call for dialogue develops into formal negotiations with AUATON, how inDrive responds, and how long drivers stay off the apps — with the open-ended action keeping pressure on ride availability and fares across Lagos.

Source: TechNext24