E-hailing drivers are advocating for acceptable policies to boost turnover and increase patronage. As part of activities to show their grievances, they embarked on a log-off action on May Day.

To escalate their plight, they have not taken their petition to the Lagos State House of Assembly and Department of State Service (DSS) but are also seeking a national policy to formally recognise the employment status of platform drivers.

If this is successful, it will help in ironing out the year-long grievances of driver profiling, pricing policies, welfare concerns and union recognition.

At least, six drivers have died due to corporate negligence and violations committed by platform-based transport companies, specifically Uber, Bolt, Indrive, Lagride, Rida and others, a statement by the App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) claimed.

The most significant occurred in January 2024 after Adebayo Padmore, a driver for LagRide, died as he prepared his routine of picking up passengers. Padmore’s death has reawakened the demand for the protection of the rights of platform-based workers.

His death has galvanised drivers, particularly those on the state-backed LagRide platform, to demand greater transparency, especially after Chinese automaker, CIG Motors, took over its operational management.

Lower purchasing power and steep inflation have caused average Nigerians to course correct, classifying ride-hailing as a luxury while they turn to other cheaper options like the state-backed Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) or ubiquitous Lagos danfos, which are often crowded and slow.