Drivers operating on Bolt and inDrive ride-hailing platforms in Lagos may withdraw their services indefinitely following a directive from the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), Lagos State Council, over concerns about fares, commissions and working conditions.
The union said the planned action was prompted by persistent complaints about platform pricing structures, commission deductions, welfare provisions and what it described as inadequate protection against arbitrary deactivation.
In a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Steven Iwindoye, AUATON said drivers had repeatedly raised these concerns without securing changes that would sufficiently address their grievances.
The union argued that drivers bear a range of operating expenses, including fuel, vehicle maintenance, tyres, insurance, mobile data, vehicle financing and depreciation. According to AUATON, these costs can significantly reduce the income drivers retain after completing trips and paying platform commissions.
It warned that the existing arrangement could become increasingly difficult to sustain if drivers continued to shoulder rising expenses without corresponding improvements in their earnings and welfare protections.
Bolt, however, called for constructive engagement rather than an immediate withdrawal of services. The company said it recognised the economic pressures facing drivers and believed dialogue offered the most practical way to address the concerns.
Weyinmi Aghadiuno, Bolt’s Head of Regulatory and Policy for Africa, said the company had proposed a roundtable discussion with AUATON and driver representatives for early the following week.
Bolt urged drivers to continue operating while discussions were being arranged, indicating that it remained open to engagement with the union over the issues raised.
The proposed meeting could provide an opportunity for both parties to discuss the concerns surrounding fares, commissions and driver welfare. However, the available statements do not establish whether the planned talks would resolve the dispute or prevent the proposed shutdown.
AUATON also appealed to the Lagos State Government, relevant federal authorities and labour institutions to intervene. It argued that the ride-hailing sector could not remain sustainable if drivers were pushed into financial hardship while meeting the costs associated with providing services.
“Technology must empower workers, not become a tool for modern-day economic exploitation,” the union said.
The planned withdrawal could disrupt ride-hailing services across Lagos if a significant number of drivers participate. Commuters who depend on app-based transport could face reduced vehicle availability during the action, although the scale of any disruption would depend on driver participation.
While AUATON named both Bolt and inDrive in its call for action, the position of inDrive on the proposed shutdown was not included in the available statements.
The dispute highlights continuing tensions over how operating costs, platform charges and earnings are shared within app-based transport services. Whether the planned roundtable produces an agreement may determine the next steps in the confrontation between drivers and platform operators.
