Uber, Bolt drivers threaten picketing as strike enters day three

Drivers operating on ride-hailing platforms, including Uber, Bolt, and inDriv,e have threatened to escalate their ongoing strike by picketing company offices, as the industrial action entered its third day without a formal response from the companies.

The strike, led by the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria, is taking place across Lagos and Ogun states, with drivers protesting what they describe as poor working conditions and unsustainable fare structures amid rising fuel and maintenance costs.

Union leaders say the next phase of action will involve physically disrupting operations if their demands are not addressed. “We will use every legal means to make sure they listen to us,” said Aina Kolawole, AUATON’s South-West vice president, noting that previous attempts at dialogue, including formal letters to the companies, had not yielded meaningful engagement.

Drivers are demanding an immediate upward review of fares to reflect inflation, fuel price increases, and vehicle maintenance costs. They are also calling for reduced commission charges, improved safety features, and better welfare protections.

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According to AUATON, compliance with the strike has reached between 70% and 75%, although full participation remains difficult due to the nature of gig work and the daily income dependence of many drivers.

The union’s Lagos chairman, Jaiyesimi Azeez, criticised the perception that ride-hailing drivers earn substantial daily income, describing it as misleading. He said many drivers struggle to cover basic operational costs, including fuel.

“Some claim we make as much as ₦200,000 daily, but that is far from reality. Many drivers can barely fuel their vehicles,” he said, adding that the current system lacks dignity and sustainability for workers.

Beyond fare increases, the union has outlined broader demands, including the introduction of a regulated minimum base fare to prevent underpriced trips, comprehensive insurance coverage, improved rider verification systems, and faster emergency response mechanisms.

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The grievances reflect deeper tensions within Nigeria’s ride-hailing ecosystem, where drivers have long argued that platform commissions and pricing models disproportionately favour companies at their expense.

Platforms silent as pressure mounts

As the strike continues, none of the affected companies has issued a detailed public response addressing the drivers’ demands. However, a spokesperson for Uber said the company remains open to engagement through dialogue and roundtable discussions.

“Drivers are at the heart of our business, and we remain committed to engaging constructively with them,” the spokesperson said, although the statement stopped short of addressing specific concerns around fare adjustments.

Industry sources suggest that the delay in response may be linked to the global structure of the companies, with key decisions requiring approval from headquarters outside Nigeria. Uber is headquartered in California, Bolt in Estonia, while inDrive operates from multiple global hubs, including the United States and Kazakhstan.

The strike comes against a backdrop of rising economic pressure in Nigeria, including a sharp increase in petrol prices in recent weeks, driven in part by global oil market developments. Similar tensions emerged in 2023 following the removal of fuel subsidies, which led to fare disputes and, in some cases, off-platform negotiations between drivers and riders.

With no resolution yet in sight, the threat of picketing signals a potential escalation that could disrupt ride-hailing services in major urban centres. For both drivers and platforms, the outcome of the standoff may shape the future of Nigeria’s gig economy and determine whether current pricing and labour models can remain viable in a high-cost environment.