On May 1, 2025, Lagos app-based transport drivers, under the banner of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), plan to go on strike.
The drivers will stop working for 24 hours, refusing to provide services on platforms such as Uber, Bolt, and inDrive.
This protest, timed with International Workers’ Day, seeks to highlight the challenges drivers face and demand better working conditions, fair pay, and a more respectful approach from the companies they work for.
The issues behind the protest are numerous and longstanding. Lagos Drivers, among others, have faced a range of problems including poor wages, sudden deactivations, and concerns over safety.
The union is also fighting against excessive commission charges and policies they say exploit workers, such as mandatory facial recognition systems and a lack of proper rider identification. They argue that app companies, like Uber and Bolt, have long prioritized their profits over the well-being of their drivers.
As AUATON spokesperson Steven Iwindoye explained, despite multiple attempts at dialogue, the app companies have ignored drivers’ concerns. “We have tried dialogue, and it hasn’t worked. These companies only understand one language: the language of economic pressure,” he said.
This strike is a direct response to the companies’ indifference to drivers’ rights and the growing feeling of exploitation within the sector.
Iwindoye, speaking on the union’s strategy, emphasized that the May Day strike would be different from previous protests. “Believe me, this will be different,” he said, stressing that the union aims to mobilize at least 5,000 drivers for the shutdown.
They are determined to make their voices heard, hoping that the protest will send a message to app-based companies that drivers will no longer accept being treated unfairly.
In the past, similar actions have been taken, with drivers shutting down services in response to what they described as exploitative fare cuts.
Earlier this year, Bolt reduced its fares by 50%, a move that angered drivers who felt they were already struggling to make a living.
The company later reversed the decision after objections, but it highlighted the power dynamics between drivers and the app companies. Drivers see such fare slashes as a deliberate strategy to increase market share at their expense.
The union also called out inDrive, another ride-hailing service, for slashing fares, forcing drivers to work for lower wages. “The only Play drive Indrive has is a low price. Nothing more,” one driver said, describing the company’s pricing tactics as unsustainable for those providing the services.
With these unresolved issues continuing to fester, the AUATON is determined to use this May Day strike to make a real impact. The protest is not just a local affair but part of a global call to action for better treatment of app-based drivers worldwide.
For many drivers, the shutdown is a fight for dignity and a better quality of life. “The job is ridiculing a lot of drivers, and it is sad. Some drivers can’t even fix their cars when they break down,” one driver shared, highlighting the harsh realities they face.
The strike is an attempt to push against policies that damage their livelihoods, forcing them to work in conditions they deem unsafe and unfair.
