Bolt Warns Port Harcourt Drivers Against 50% Fare Hike, Says Actions Are Unauthorised

Bolt has warned that any driver in Port Harcourt found charging riders outside its app will face immediate and permanent removal from the platform. 

This comes after reports emerged that some drivers in the city are planning to increase fares by 50% in protest against what they describe as unfair pricing on the Bolt app.

In a statement released this week, the company said it was aware of “reports suggesting that some drivers in Port Harcourt plan to increase fares by 50% due to concerns about pricing on the Bolt app,” but firmly stated that such actions are unauthorised and “go against Bolt’s operating policies.”

The ride-hailing firm explained that its platform already allows drivers to propose their own fares through a feature called Price Bidding, which, according to Bolt, “ensures fair and transparent pricing for both drivers and riders without the need for any external fare adjustment or surcharge.”

Bolt also emphasised that “any driver found to be charging riders outside the app or demanding extra payments beyond the agreed in-app fare will face immediate and permanent removal from the Bolt platform.” 

The company reiterated its focus on providing “affordable, transparent, and safe mobility for all Nigerians,” urging drivers to continue using the app according to its guidelines.

The warning follows increasing dissatisfaction among Bolt drivers in Port Harcourt, many of whom are members of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON). 

They have complained that expensive fuel prices, vehicle maintenance costs, and the price of spare parts have made it highly difficult to operate profitably.

In their defence, the drivers argue that the company’s current fare model does not align with Nigeria’s economic reality. 

A driver who spoke through AUATON’s Rivers State Chairman, Amos Omoruyi, recently told the media that parts like brake pads that once cost ₦1,500 now sell for as high as ₦8,000. “We are not fraudulent,” Omoruyi said in an interview. “What we are asking for is a fair adjustment to reflect the current cost of living.”

Some drivers also allege that while their costs have gone up, Bolt’s commission rate has stayed high, further cutting into their earnings. They insist that without fare adjustments, drivers will continue to struggle to sustain their operations.

However, Bolt’s latest statement focuses on policy enforcement and reiterates the company’s stance against unauthorised fare changes. 

The company maintains that the Price Bidding feature offers drivers flexibility to propose fares based on what riders are willing to pay, a system it believes balances both sides.

With inflation and fuel prices affecting Nigeria’s e-hailing sector, operating expenses have moved to record levels and drivers are demanding better compensation. Platforms like Bolt continue to prioritise fare stability for riders.

For now, Bolt insists it will not tolerate any action that negatively affects the platform’s pricing system. “We encourage all drivers and riders to continue using the Bolt app in accordance with our guidelines to maintain trust and fairness across the platform,” the company said.