E-hailing drivers protesting against low fares and high operating costs have demanded that Bolt and inDrive increase their rates or leave Nigeria, as an indefinite strike by app-based transport workers disrupts ride services in Lagos.
The demand has gained attention on social media after a video of a protesting driver surfaced on X on Monday, October 12, with the man accusing the platforms of charging fares that leave drivers struggling to cover fuel and other expenses.
In the video shared by Nigeria Stories, the unidentified driver, who says he is a father of four, is heard chanting slogans against the companies and insisting that drivers would no longer tolerate what he described as unfair pricing.
“InDrive must go,” he says, while demanding that Bolt increase its fares.
The driver also declares that e-hailing workers are not slaves and questions how they are expected to survive under the current pricing structure.
He claims that he worked from the previous night into Monday, earned ₦60,000 but spent ₦80,000 on fuel, leaving him with nothing to take home.
The claims could not be independently verified. Technext said it confirmed through a reverse image search that the video was genuine and recent but could not establish the man’s identity, verify his earnings or independently confirm the per-kilometre rate he cited.
“We did not increase the price of fuel; the government increased the price,” the driver says in the video, blaming the platforms’ fare structure for the pressure on workers.
He also objects to a rate of ₦200 per kilometre, which he attributes to the e-hailing companies, arguing that drivers should not be expected to absorb the rising cost of operating their vehicles.
The video has divided opinion online, with some Nigerians supporting the drivers’ demand for higher fares, while others argue that the government, rather than the ride-hailing platforms, should bear the blame for rising living and transport costs.
Some commenters have proposed alternative solutions, including metered fares that account for distance and time spent in traffic, as well as reducing platform commissions from 25 per cent to 10 per cent.
Others have warned that significantly higher fares could make e-hailing services unaffordable for passengers already struggling with the cost of living.
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The controversy comes as the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria began an indefinite shutdown of Bolt and inDrive services in Lagos on Monday.
The union is demanding a review of fares and a cap on platform commissions at 10 per cent, subject to negotiations. It also wants drivers consulted before changes are made to fares or commissions.
The industrial action has reportedly reduced the number of available vehicles, with some passengers experiencing waiting times of between 16 and 20 minutes and higher fares.
Bolt has called for dialogue with the union. The company’s Head of Regulatory and Policy in Africa, Weyinmi Aghadiuno, said it was focused on listening to drivers, understanding their concerns and finding practical ways to improve their experience.
However, the union’s Lagos chairman, Jaiyesimi Azeez, has maintained that the platforms should no longer have unilateral control over pricing.
The dispute highlights the growing tension between e-hailing drivers seeking to protect their earnings and passengers facing rising transport costs, with both groups struggling to cope with the broader economic pressures.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
