By Rotimi Asher, Lagos
App-based transport drivers in Lagos, including those operating under platforms such as Bolt, Uber, Lagride, inDrive, and Rida, will suspend services on May 1, 2025, in a 24-hour strike to protest against what they describe as exploitative working conditions and anti-labour practices.
The planned industrial action, coinciding with International Workers’ Day, was announced by the Lagos chapter of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria ,AUATON.
According to a notice signed by the union’s Public Relations Officer, Steven Iwindoye, drivers will stay off ride-hailing platforms to demand fair compensation, improved safety standards, and respect for workers’ rights.
“This action is a necessary step in drawing attention to the persistent challenges faced by app-based transport workers in Lagos.
“These include poor remuneration, sudden and unjust deactivations, unsafe working environments, and high commission charges levied by app companies”.
Iwindoye also cited a lack of proper rider identification protocols, the imposition of mandatory facial recognition systems, and general disregard for drivers’ welfare as further reasons behind the protest.
He emphasized that previous efforts at dialogue with app-based companies had been unproductive, leaving the union with no choice but to apply “economic pressure”.
The union said the protest is not just a withdrawal of service, but a broader campaign for dignity and justice within the industry.
A formal list of demands will follow the strike, alongside a structured framework for negotiations with app-based companies. AUATON indicated that the action is supported by labour groups, civil society organizations, and media partners.
Commuters in Lagos who rely on ride-hailing apps for daily mobility are likely to experience significant disruptions during the May Day protest.
The union has urged the public to understand the drivers’ grievances, calling the action a “global call to action” for workers.
AUATON stressed that its members are not merely individual contractors, but a collective force seeking to reclaim their rights in a system that has long prioritized profit over people.
