Business
THE Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has demanded greater driver participation in fare and commission decisions.
Lagos State Chairman of AUATON, Mr Ibrahim Ayoade, made the demand in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, while reacting to Uber’s exit from the country.
Ayoade accused e-hailing platforms of imposing fares and commissions without consulting drivers, despite rising fuel prices and increasing operational costs.
He warned Bolt and inDrive to learn from Uber’s experience by engaging AUATON, saying continued disregard for drivers could trigger migration to homegrown platforms.
Ayoade recalled the union wrote repeatedly to Uber seeking dialogue on fare structures and driver welfare, but claimed the company failed to respond.
“The price of the business we render, they are the ones setting the price.
“Anytime fuel price goes up, they increase their commission and the price remains the same,” he said.
He said the situation had continued to undermine drivers’ earnings, despite drivers owning the vehicles and providing most of the services sustaining the e-hailing ecosystem
Ayoade, therefore, urged Bolt and inDrive to engage AUATON, which he described as the representative of e-hailing drivers, to address operational concerns.
“If they refuse to take an example from this, this is coming to them,” he said.
Ayoade said the union would consider moving its members to a Nigerian-owned platform if foreign operators failed to address drivers’ concerns.
He said such a move would help retain billions of naira within Nigeria and strengthen the country’s digital transportation ecosystem.
According to him, Uber’s departure was a major setback for drivers, particularly those whose livelihoods depended heavily on the platform.
“We saw this coming. We are not happy that they are leaving because we are not against foreign investment,” he said.
Ayoade, who said he helped introduce e-hailing in Nigeria through AfroCab in 2014, claimed drivers contributed about 95 per cent to the ecosystem.
He, however, lamented that drivers had little influence over pricing, commissions and other major decisions affecting their livelihoods.
Ayoade also criticised the manner of Uber’s exit, saying drivers and customers were notified by email on Sept. 2 without prior engagement.
He raised concerns about outstanding driver earnings and demanded transparency and accountability in the process of settling payments after the company’s departure.
He said the exit would particularly affect More drivers in Lagos who operated exclusively on the Uber platform and could face difficulties migrating elsewhere.
The AUATON chairman said the development nevertheless presented an opportunity for Nigerian technology firms to develop competitive homegrown e-hailing platforms.
He disclosed that the union was already planning to partner relevant stakeholders and technology companies to develop a locally owned e-hailing application.
Ayoade said the initiative would provide drivers with greater participation while ensuring that more revenue generated from Nigeria’s transportation sector remained within the country.
Also speaking, Mr Kennedy Chukwu, a car dealer, described Uber’s departure as disappointing, saying it could affect incomes and transportation costs.
Chukwu, however, said the development could encourage Nigerians to patronise indigenous ride-hailing companies and create opportunities for local operators.
An Uber driver, Mr Amos Henry, said he was saddened by the company’s departure, noting that its bonuses and promotions helped reduce operational expenses.
Henry said Uber’s income was important to his family and warned that losing the platform would place significant pressure on his household finances.
“The Uber business is very important to my family because what I earn from Uber is what I use to support my family,” he said.
He said Uber’s bonuses and promotional incentives had helped drivers cope with rising fuel prices and other operating costs.
Uber announced on Tuesday that it would exit Nigeria and Uganda as part of a global business realignment.
The company said it would notify drivers and riders regarding outstanding payments and data migration following its departure.
The exit leaves Bolt, inDrive and several local platforms as major players in Nigeria’s e-hailing market.(NAN)
A.I
Sept. 7, 2026
Tags: AUATON Bolt inDrive Mr Amos Henry Mr Ibrahim Ayoade Mr Kennedy Chukwu