Drivers operating on Uber, Bolt and inDrive platforms have threatened to escalate their ongoing industrial action by picketing company offices if their demands are not met.
The warning comes as a three-day strike declared by the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) enters its final day, with ride-hailing companies yet to issue a formal response to the drivers’ demands.
AUATON Vice President (South West), Aina Kolawole, said the union had exhausted peaceful channels, including multiple letters to the companies, before resorting to strike action.
“Before now, we have written a series of letters to all of them. They acknowledged our letters, but that was where it ended,” he said.
Kolawole said the next step would be to picket company offices and disrupt operations if negotiations fail.
“We will use every legal means to make sure they listen to us,” he added.
The drivers are demanding an upward review of fares to reflect rising fuel costs, vehicle maintenance expenses and inflation, which they say have eroded earnings.
Chairman of AUATON in Lagos State, Jaiyesimi Azeez, accused ride-hailing companies of misrepresenting drivers’ earnings and failing to address their welfare concerns.
He said many drivers struggle to sustain operations despite working long hours, noting that public perceptions of high earnings do not reflect reality.
The union said compliance with the strike across Lagos and Ogun states has reached between 70 and 75 percent, though it acknowledged the difficulty of achieving full participation due to the nature of the work.
As of the time of reporting, none of the companies had issued an official statement. However, an Uber spokesperson said the company remains open to dialogue and regular engagement with drivers.
Sources within the companies said key decisions regarding fare adjustments are made at their global headquarters, which may explain the delay in responding to local demands.
