By Atlantic Reports

The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), Lagos State Council, says its members have begun an indefinite withdrawal of services on Bolt and inDrive over rising operating costs and concerns about driver earnings.

The union’s Public Relations Officer, Comrade Steven Iwindoye, said on Monday that the action would continue until the platforms took meaningful steps to address drivers’ demands.

He described the first day as successful, citing reports from mobilisation teams of reduced ride availability in several parts of Lagos. The extent of participation and disruption was not independently established in the supplied account.

Iwindoye said drivers faced mounting expenditure on fuel, maintenance, repairs, insurance, mobile data and vehicle financing.

“These expenses do not disappear simply because a driver receives a low fare or completes fewer trips. Drivers must still maintain their vehicles and meet their financial obligations,” he said.

Drivers Seek Fare and Commission Changes

The union is demanding fair and sustainable fares, platform commissions capped at 10 per cent, and transparency in fare calculations and deductions.

It also wants appropriate insurance and safety protections, fair procedures before drivers are deactivated, improved welfare and meaningful engagement with recognised driver representatives.

Iwindoye said fares should account for operating costs, traffic conditions, trip distance and vehicle category while allowing drivers reasonable returns on their investment.

“We cannot continue working like elephants while eating like ants. Technology must create opportunities, not turn hardworking drivers into victims of an unsustainable economic arrangement,” he said.

The supplied account did not provide current commission rates, trip-level earnings or operating-cost figures. Those details would help assess the gap between fares received and the cost of providing rides.

Union Reports Disruption Across Lagos

Iwindoye said mobilisation teams reported disruption in Ikeja, Surulere, Festac Town, Yaba, Ikorodu, Badagry, Lagos Island, Lekki, Ajah and Ibeju-Lekki.

He said the union’s task force and compliance teams were monitoring developments, communicating with members and documenting reports.

He urged participating drivers to remain peaceful, avoid confrontations and respect other road users’ rights.

No responses from Bolt or inDrive were included in the supplied account. Neither platform’s position on the demands, nor its assessment of service availability, was provided.

Iwindoye called for constructive negotiations, saying drivers supplied the vehicles, fuel, maintenance and labour on which the platforms depended.

He also appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress, government authorities and other labour stakeholders to support a resolution.

The dispute brings questions of earnings, safety and representation in app-based work into focus. For drivers, the immediate concern is whether fares cover their costs; for passengers, prolonged action could reduce access to rides.

The union said it wanted practical changes rather than meetings or promises without results. No agreement or timetable for resolving the dispute was announced.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.