The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), Lagos State Council, has criticised social media commentator Certified Courtist over comments describing app-based transporters in a manner the union said unfairly criminalises thousands of law-abiding drivers.

In an open letter issued yesterday, AUATON said while public commentators have the right to express their opinions, such views should be based on facts and a balanced understanding of the realities facing Nigeria’s e-hailing industry.

The union’s Public Relations Officer, Steven Iwindoye, said describing app-based transporters as “thieves” amounted to a sweeping generalisation that unfairly tarnishes the reputation of drivers who earn legitimate livelihoods through ride-hailing platforms.

“We do not shield any driver who engages in criminality or unethical conduct. Any driver found guilty of theft, fraud, assault or any other offence should face the full weight of the law. However, justice demands individual accountability, not collective condemnation,” Iwindoye said.

He argued that discussions about safety and misconduct within the e-hailing sector should also focus on the operational policies of app companies, which determine fares, commissions, incentives and driver deactivations.

According to him, public conversations often overlook the challenges faced by drivers, including arbitrary deactivations, rising operating costs, security threats, the absence of social protection and the financial pressures of maintaining vehicles amid low fares.

Iwindoye also disagreed with suggestions that dissatisfied drivers should simply leave the profession, describing such advice as an oversimplification of Nigeria’s economic realities.

He noted that many app-based transporters had invested heavily in vehicles through loans, cooperative financing and hire-purchase arrangements, while others drive vehicles owned by investors who also depend on the business for income.

“The solution cannot simply be to tell people to abandon their profession. The solution is to advocate for a system that is fairer, safer and more sustainable for everyone involved,” he said.

The union called on the commentator to engage with drivers, vehicle owners and the union before making public pronouncements on the industry.

It also urged stakeholders to hold all parties accountable, including drivers, passengers and app companies, insisting that meaningful reforms in the e-hailing sector require a balanced approach.

AUATON reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, passenger safety and the welfare of app-based transporters, while expressing its readiness to engage in dialogue aimed at improving Nigeria’s ride-hailing ecosystem.