Lagos State Government Attacks Uber/Moove Vehicles over Failure to Provide Access to Database

The Lagos State Government has started impounding Uber and Moove’s vehicles after warning the e-hailing services about vehicle impoundment few weeks ago.

This is due to their refusal to integrate the API with the state government database.

According to the state government, the riding service failed to honor an initial agreement it had with the state.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, had served the services a warning. He asked them to act right and carry the government along with the API integration. He previously stated, “This is essential for fostering a secure and regulated transportation ecosystem for the well-being of all Lagos State residents.”

Uber spoke up for itself and pointed out that it has satisfied the requirements that the state government asked for. Uber stated that they have met Lagos State’s taxi-riding requirements. They insisted they did this by paying the annual fee, per-trip levy, and the necessary data-sharing agreement.

Furthermore, the company stated that it is committed to service in Nigeria. It also stressed that it complies with the regulations that the state government has penned down.

Lagos State Government Impounds Uber’s Vehicles

Mr Osiyemi had warned the e-riding services that once the government started retaliating, it would affect their operation. These warnings led to Uber and Moove’s vehicles getting impounded. The government acted by luring the riders out by ordering rides on the Uber platform. Once the riders get to their location, they deflate their tires and impound the vehicles.

According to Technext, a Moove driver who got his vehicle impounded said: “I came to Alausa to drop a passenger, and somebody ordered me on the Uber platform. Thinking that it was a passenger, they tricked me into a compound. Before I knew what was happening, they took the keys from me and deflated my tires. I asked them what’s the problem and they said Uber has a problem with the government.”

Most of the drivers affected have been left confused since they have no idea why their vehicles are getting impounded. The drivers made their grievances known and asked why they were being treated in such a way.

Also, they asked the government to act on Uber/Moove directly, as it was making them suffer a loss they never saw coming.

Conclusion

The PRO of the Lagos State chapter of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), Comrade Iwindoye Steven, made a statement on the present issue. He said, “Despite multiple letters sent by the government, Uber has not complied. This led to the decision to enforce the arrest of Uber app users. As a responsible union, we aim to protect our members from the subjugation of this app company and the Lagos government. Therefore, we recommend temporarily ceasing the use of the Uber app.”

The driver partners urged Uber to contact the state government and provide the Ministry of Transportation access to the database to save their livelihood. The state government reminded the ride-hailing service that it must comply with the data-sharing agreement and give them access to the database.