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Lagos Drivers Plan to Turn Off Ride-hailing Apps Like inDrive, Bolt, and Uber On Workers’ Day (May 1st)
Thousands of drivers in Lagos are gearing up to turn off their ride-hailing apps for 24 hours this Workers’ Day, May 1st, in a major protest against companies like Uber, Bolt, and inDrive. Under the banner of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), the drivers say they’ve had enough of being treated unfairly and are ready to fight for better pay and working conditions.
“We’re switching off the apps and staying home on May 1st. No work, no rides, just a clear message that we won’t accept disrespect anymore,” said Steven Iwindoye, a union spokesperson in Lagos. The group aims to get at least 5,000 drivers to join the shutdown, hoping the move will finally force the companies to listen.
Drivers say they’ve tried talking to these apps for months, but nothing has changed. According to Iwindoye, the apps keep cutting fares and ignoring drivers’ needs while chasing higher profits. “They only care about their money, not us. We’re tired of begging,” he added.
This isn’t the first time drivers have pushed back. Earlier this year, Bolt drivers boycotted the app after the company suddenly slashed trip prices by half. “The fares became ridiculous, even with cheaper fuel, we couldn’t make ends meet,” one driver told Technext. Though Bolt later reversed the cuts, drivers say the company’s actions show how little it values them.
In April, drivers also targeted inDrive, accusing it of letting riders haggle prices down to unworkable levels. “A trip that should cost 8,000 naira gets chopped to 6,000. How do we survive like this?” a frustrated driver asked. Despite the April boycott, inDrive claimed it wasn’t affected, but drivers vow this time will be different.
“Believe me, May 1st will hit harder,” Iwindoye insisted. The union argues that drivers are the backbone of the ride-hailing business and deserve fair treatment. “We’re not asking for luxury, just enough to fix our cars, feed our families, and work safely,” another driver said.
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For passengers in Lagos, the shutdown could mean fewer ride options on Workers’ Day. But for drivers, it’s a last resort. “They’ve pushed us to the edge,” said Iwindoye. “Now we push back.”
As the protest date nears, all eyes are on whether the apps will respond, or risk longer disruptions in one of Africa’s busiest cities.
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