Lagos E-Hailing Drivers Strike over Fares and Commissions

In Short

Lagos e-hailing drivers have started an indefinite strike over fares, platform commissions, deductions, and working conditions. The action affects app-based trips across the city.

What Happened

Lagos e-hailing drivers began an indefinite strike on October 12, according to a notice from the Lagos State Council of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria, AUATON.

The drivers say their concerns include fares, meaning the trip price riders pay, platform commissions, meaning the cut the app takes from each trip, and other deductions that reduce take-home earnings.

The strike affects drivers using platforms including InDrive and Bolt. Bolt said it wants “constructive dialogue” and proposed a roundtable meeting with the union.

AUATON said it will deploy task force members across Lagos local government areas to monitor compliance. It also warned that drivers who ignore the strike could face internal disciplinary action.

The union also asked fleet owners and managers to pause daily remittance payments and targets during the strike. A remittance is the daily fixed amount some drivers pay car owners or fleet managers, even when demand is low.

The walkout comes weeks after Uber stopped operating in Nigeria on September 2. That exit left fewer large ride-hailing options in Lagos, and it could increase the impact of any disruption on remaining platforms.

Why It Matters

For riders, fewer active drivers can mean longer wait times, fewer accepted trips, and higher prices in areas where dynamic pricing is used.

For platforms, the strike is a test of driver supply and trust. If drivers feel earnings do not match fuel costs, vehicle maintenance, and safety risks, retention can drop, and customer service can suffer.

For fleet owners, a prolonged shutdown raises a practical question about who carries the cost when cars are idle. If daily remittance obligations continue during strikes, disputes with drivers are likely to rise.

The next signal to watch is whether a formal roundtable happens quickly, and whether any fare or commission adjustments follow. Techmoonshot also reported that inDrive had not publicly responded at the time of reporting.