Uber, Bolt Drivers in Lagos Want Sanwo-Olu to Set New Rules for Ride-Hailing Companies

Ride-hailing drivers in Lagos, represented by the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), are asking the Lagos State Government to set rules for their industry. 

This request was made by AUATON’s South-West zonal chairman, Kolawole Aina, during an interview where he emphasised the importance of having regulations that protect drivers and ensure fair practices.

Aina pointed out that companies like Uber, Bolt, and InDrive often have policies that aren’t good for drivers, including low pay, high commission, and will-power to remove drivers from their platforms without clear reasons.

He mentioned that their group has created a plan, approved by the federal government, to fix these issues, but they need Lagos State to listen and help implement it.

His statement:

“As a union, we saw the problems, created solutions and presented the solutions to government. It was accepted by the federal ministries of transport and labour, but the Lagos State government did not give us a listening ear. 

“The document, which we call the collective agreement, is about how the government, app-based companies, drivers, and riders can have a fair share of responsibilities in the industry. 

“It will be a system where each ride can be monitored by all the four communities, and each community can mutually benefit.” 

Additionally, AUATON wants new rules about insurance and safety for drivers. Aina brought up serious concerns, such as drivers being attacked or even killed by passengers. 

He suggested making insurance mandatory for every trip to cover the drivers, passengers, their belongings, and the cars.

He also criticised the way ride-hailing companies use computer programs to make decisions that affect drivers, saying that people should make these decisions instead. 

He believes that using algorithms takes away the human touch and can often ignore the real needs and well-being of drivers.