Uber, Bolt, inDrive accused of ‘corporate insensitivity’ ahead of May 1 shutdown in Rivers

Ahead of a planned boycott of the Uber, Bolt and inDrive apps by drivers in Rivers State, the three taxi-hailing companies have been accused of ‘corporate insensitivity. The accusation was made by Comrade Omoruyi Amos, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON).

Quizzed about the rising spate of offline trips which has become very rampant in Port Harcourt and indeed across Rivers state, Comrade Amos said it was mainly because the app companies have failed to address existential problems like poor infrastructure, high commissions and rising cost of operation for drivers.

“The rise in offline trips is largely a symptom of the wider problem of corporate insensitivity. These companies fail to address poor fare structures, high commissions, lack of incentives, and the rising cost of operations. Drivers are simply trying to survive. Without empathy or involvement from the companies, drivers resort to offline trips as a means of economic relief. It’s not ideal, but it’s a response to desperation, not rebellion,” the Rivers union chief said.

This is coming as drivers in the state have vowed to shut down all e-hailing apps on Workers Day (May 1). According to the chairman, the boycott, which is in line with a global movement to shut down e-hailing apps on Workers Day, is aimed at agitating for better working conditions.

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According to a statement released about the matter, it was unanimously agreed that drivers across the state will log off from Bolt, Uber, and Indrive apps as part of a collective protest action. Per the statement, the protest seeks to address the harsh realities and exploitative conditions app-based drivers continue to face, including excessive commission charges, lack of social protection, poor earnings, and disregard for driver welfare by app companies.

“As a union, we can no longer remain silent while our members suffer under these unfair and unsustainable conditions. This global action is a united stand by drivers everywhere to say: enough is enough,” Comrade Amos said.

The drivers also said they would assemble at the LABOUR HOUSE, NLC State Secretariat, Port Harcourt, on May 1st, 2025, for a mass rally in celebration of International Workers’ Day.

Uber, Bolt, and inDrive do not have significance presence in Rivers

As drivers in Rivers state look towards joining with their colleagues worldwide in a global app shutdown to protest poor pay and failure of app companies to engage drivers, the Rivers AUATON Chairman, Comrade Amos said the situation is so bad in the state that no ride-hailing company has had any meaningful engagement with drivers in the state.

“To be honest, no ride-hailing company has shown meaningful or consistent engagement with the drivers’ union in Rivers State. While there may have been brief, informal interactions in the past, none have committed to a structured dialogue, partnership, or welfare-driven collaboration with the union. This lack of engagement creates a disconnect between the platform operators and the real people powering their services on ground,” the chairman said.

Engagement with drivers comes with significant presence. This presence on the ground would enable the companies to interact with drivers, investigate and understand their pain points, and then roll out programs, features and policies to improve service for both drivers and riders alike.

However, the AUATON chairman said such a sequence of activities is impossible. This is because the app companies are inaccessible as they do not have a significant presence in the state.

“Most ride-hailing companies operating in Rivers State do not maintain functional or accessible physical offices within the state. In situations where they do exist, they are either hidden from public knowledge or operate more like ghost offices—no visible staff presence or public access for complaints, dispute resolution, or onboarding. Drivers are often left at the mercy of email and in-app support systems that barely respond to their real-time needs,” Comrade Amos said.

One of the biggest evidence of the absence of ride-hailing companies is the normalisation of offline trips and negotiations in the state and indeed across the south-south states of Nigeria. Because the app companies allegedly care only about their profits, making them slash fares at will, the drivers said they decided to guarantee their survival by fixing their own fares.

Asked if the incidents of offline trips and negotiations, which have become standard procedure in the state, will reduce if the app companies improve the fares, the chairman said improving the fare structure is a major part of the solution.

“If drivers are paid fairly and feel respected by the platform, they will have less reason to go offline. Many drivers still prefer the safety, convenience, and accountability of app-based operations, but they won’t keep sacrificing their income to stay online. A win-win fare structure and a collaborative relationship with unions will definitely reduce the lure of offline trips and restore trust in the system,” he finished.

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