An unidentified e-hailing driver has collapsed while on duty in the Ikeja area of Lagos State, with colleagues attributing the incident to long working hours and low fares.

According to a video seen by Technext, the driver could be seen lying unconscious against the wheels of his Toyota Camry as fellow drivers tried to revive him without success.

After failing to revive him, the colleagues reached out to the general public, asking anyone who could identify the driver's family to come forward and help take him to safety.

“Please, this guy is currently unconscious right now on Amore Street, off Toyin Street, Ikeja. None of us here knows him. Please, if anyone knows him, they should please contact his family,” the drivers announced.

Some of the e-hailing drivers blamed their colleague's condition on the tedious demands of the job, noting that unfavourable working conditions and the struggle to make ends meet on low fares are pushing drivers to spend an unhealthy number of hours on the road.

“If only we know what these app companies have subjected drivers to. Lots of drivers are now working tirelessly just to meet up, picking ridiculous prices, running Abuja inside Lagos. No time to rest, pressure from fleet companies, and private owners of HP (hire purchase) and rentals. Drivers no longer go for medical check-ups. They are working tirelessly, yet they still can’t meet up with bills. The app companies are the ones gaining, while drivers are at the losing end. Yet we’re the engine of this business,” one driver lamented.

Technext previously reported that Lagos drivers are set to shut down Bolt and inDrive in October, demanding a 10% commission and a restructure of fares.

Another driver pointed out that the street where the man collapsed is a hub for drivers who spend the night sleeping in their cars, noting that about 20-30 drivers regularly park there to sleep overnight.

“I wonder how much drivers are making that would make them be sleeping inside a car till morning without proper ventilation in the car, and to the detriment of their health. It’s really sad we are going through so much suffering all in the name of Uber work, and we never prioritise our own health,” he said.

Debates over e-hailing drivers' welfare and personal care

Over the years, drivers have continued to clamour for better working conditions and safer environments. One recurring complaint is that many drivers find themselves spending longer hours behind the wheel as they try to earn enough to cover skyrocketing operational costs, personal and family obligations, and payments to car owners, since most do not own the vehicles they drive.

Many app companies, including Bolt, insist they have a feature that locks drivers out of their apps once they exceed a maximum online time, usually between 15 and 16 straight hours. Debate persists over the efficacy of these features, however, because most drivers juggle two or more apps, making it almost impossible to find a driver logged into a single app for 15 hours.

Responsibility for managing hours therefore falls on drivers themselves, so as to avoid the breakdown of both man and machine. Some drivers agree with this stance, noting that the pursuit of improved income should not come at the cost of self-neglect.

“Everything is not app company. Majority of drivers that sleep outside choose to do so by themselves. Some of them have houses in Ikorodu or Abule Egba axis, what stops them from going home? Let’s learn to live within our income. If you allow the expected living condition to determine your income, you will just kill yourself on hustling,” one driver argued.

Another driver advocated that colleagues plan their trips so they work closer to home during the evenings and nights.

“Drivers that stay in Ikorodu will be in Ikeja around 7 pm and be dragging trips going to Ajah with drivers that live around Ajah. If you stay in Ikorodu, once it’s 5 pm, anywhere you are, start looking for trips that will take you close to Ikorodu, so that after dropping your rider, it will be easy for you to go home and have a sound sleep,” he advised.