Nigerian Ride-Hailing Drivers to Go Off Roads on May 1 Over Alleged Exploitation by Uber, Bolt

Thousands of app-based transport workers across Nigeria are  for a nationwide shutdown of ride-hailing services on May 1, 2025, in protest against what they describe as exploitation and poor working conditions by major tech platforms including Uber, Bolt, inDrive, Lagride, and Rida.

The strike, organized by the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), will coincide with International Workers’ Day and is expected to paralyze app-based transport services in major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna.

Drivers are demanding fairer pay, better protections, and an end to practices they say are unjust and harmful.

According to AUATON, drivers currently earn as little as ₦1,200 for trips spanning 10 kilometres, despite soaring fuel costs and inflation. Meanwhile, the platforms reportedly deduct between 25 to 30 percent of each fare as commission leaving little for drivers after covering their operating expenses.

“Drivers are working long hours just to survive, while multinational companies reap massive profits,” said AUATON General Secretary, Jossy Olawale.

“This shutdown is a necessary step to demand dignity, fair wages, and protection from exploitation,” he said.

The union also cited grievances beyond low pay, including sudden and unexplained deactivations of driver accounts, lack of health insurance and social safety nets, and poor safety measures that leave drivers vulnerable to attacks. Additionally, concerns have been raised over the use of facial recognition systems, which drivers say pose privacy risks and technical problems that affect their ability to work.

In preparation for the protest, AUATON has called on all app-based drivers to log off their platforms for a full 24 hours on May 1. The union has also planned peaceful rallies in major cities and is engaging with labor unions, civil society organizations, and the media to draw attention to the plight of gig workers in the country.

The strike is part of a broader global campaign advocating for the rights of workers in the economy.

Similar movements have emerged in various countries, calling for fair treatment and legal recognition of app-based drivers and delivery workers.

As of press time, none of the companies named by AUATON had issued a public response to the planned strike.

Commuters across Nigeria may face transportation disruptions on May Day as drivers switch off their apps and take to the streets to demand reform. Observers say the action could mark a significant moment in the push for regulation and improved labor standards in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding gig economy.