App-based drivers in Lagos have issued a stern warning to major ride-hailing platforms including Uber, Bolt, inDrive, and Lagride, stating they may abandon the services in favour of local alternatives if their longstanding demands for better working conditions and reduced commission charges are not addressed.
This was disclosed by the Public Relations Officer of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), Mr Steven Iwindoye, during a press briefing in Lagos on Friday.
Drivers are seeking fair remuneration, enhanced safety protocols for both drivers and passengers, a cap on commission rates at five per cent, and full acknowledgment of their rights and welfare.
“If these companies fail to comply, we will move en masse to indigenous app firms willing to meet our demands. Three such apps are already operational. Additionally, our community is developing its own platform to end exploitation and modern-day slavery,” said Iwindoye.
He criticised the major international platforms for placing excessive emphasis on profit-making while neglecting the dignity and welfare of the drivers who form the backbone of the industry.
Iwindoye also referred to the recent May Day protest, during which drivers conducted a 24-hour operational shutdown, as a clear indication of the emerging resolve among drivers to stand up against what they describe as exploitative practices in the industry.
He further noted that the union’s national leadership had already presented a petition to the National Assembly, while the Lagos chapter would soon take similar action by addressing the Lagos State House of Assembly and other relevant stakeholders.
According to him, the union is preparing to announce a date for picketing the companies involved in the dispute, aiming to apply direct pressure on the platforms until their grievances are heard and acted upon.
“We want to maintain momentum until our demands are fully acknowledged. The companies and the government alike must begin to take us seriously,” he added.
Earlier, Nairametrics had reported on the 1st of May, 2025, that app-based drivers across Lagos temporarily suspended services for 24 hours in protest against what they described as unjust labour practices. These included excessive commission deductions, poor working conditions, and policies such as random deactivations and compulsory facial recognition protocols.
The drivers argue that their earnings have been significantly undermined by these policies, and they accuse the ride-hailing companies—Uber, Bolt, Lagride, inDrive, and Rida—of continuously placing profits above the welfare of their workforce.
Iwindoye concluded by stating that repeated efforts to engage with the platforms had been ignored, leaving the union with little choice but to intensify its campaign for justice and better treatment.