By ROSE OKUDAYE

The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), Lagos State Council, says e-hailing drivers cannot continue to operate at a loss amid rising operational costs.

AUATON’s Public Relations Officer, Comrade Steven Iwindoye, said this on Monday in Lagos, as the union declared the first day of its indefinite shutdown of Bolt and inDrive operations successful.

Iwindoye said that the action would continue until the platforms addressed App-based drivers’ demands.

He said that drivers were struggling with rising expenses, including fuel, vehicle 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,” the PRO said.

He said that the union was demanding fair and sustainable fares, a reduction in platform commissions to a maximum of 10 per cent, transparency in fare calculations and deductions, and improved driver welfare.

Iwindoye said that other demands included appropriate insurance and safety protections, fair procedures before driver deactivation, and meaningful engagement between the platforms and legitimate driver representatives.

According to him, fare structures should reflect operating costs, traffic conditions, trip distance and vehicle category, while allowing drivers to earn reasonable returns on their investments.

“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 AUATON spokesperson said that reports from the union’s mobilisation teams indicated widespread disruption to the availability of Bolt and inDrive rides in several parts of Lagos.

He listed the affected areas to include Ikeja, Surulere, Festac Town, Yaba, Ikorodu, Badagry, Lagos Island, Lekki, Ajah and Ibeju-Lekki.

Iwindoye said that the union’s task force and compliance teams remained active during the industrial action to monitor developments, communicate with members and document reports from different locations.

He urged participating drivers to remain peaceful, disciplined and law-abiding, while advising them to avoid confrontations and respect the rights of other road users.

Iwindoye called on Bolt and inDrive to recognise the importance of drivers to their operations and engage constructively with its representatives.

“The drivers who operate on your platforms are essential to the services you provide. They invest in vehicles, purchase fuel, maintain their cars, accept the risks of the road, and devote their time and labour to transporting passengers,” he said.

Iwindoye said that the union was seeking practical measures rather than promises or meetings without tangible outcomes.

He also appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), relevant government authorities and other labour stakeholders to support efforts to resolve the dispute.

Iwindoye said that the concerns raised by app-based transporters reflected broader challenges relating to fair remuneration, workers’ welfare and representation in the digital economy.

He said that the Indefinite industrial action would continue until the platforms took meaningful steps towards addressing drivers’ demands. (NAN)