Lagos drivers protest Uber, Bolt and inDrive’s refusal to implement mandatory health insurance

E-hailing drivers in Lagos have embarked on a rally to protest the refusal of app companies Uber, Bolt and inDrive to implement mandatory health insurance for drivers. Recall that last month, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) mandated that all e-hailing companies and logistics operators provide health insurance for their drivers and delivery personnel.

The NHIA said the move was in line with the September 2025 presidential directive on the mandatory implementation of health insurance for all Nigerians and legal residents. It also said the move was backed by law, under the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022, which makes health insurance compulsory.

See also: AUATON petitions Attorney-General on FG’s mandatory health insurance for drivers

According to drivers under the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), the protest is in support of the enforcement of the NHIA directive for app-based drivers and to demand fair treatment for drivers across ride-hailing platforms.

“This peaceful demonstration seeks to draw attention to the challenges faced daily by app-based drivers, including inadequate fares, high commissions, lack of social protection, rising operational costs, and the failure of platform companies to adequately recognise the welfare and rights of drivers who keep the industry running,” the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Jaiyesimi Azeez said.

He also noted that during the rally, which would commence at the Landmark Tower in Lagos, the union would be demanding the enforcement of the NHIA directives for health insurance for app-based drivers.

The union is also demanding a fair and realistic fare structure as well as a reduction in excessive commissions, especially by Bolt and Uber.

Finally, the union will be demanding recognition, protection, and respect for drivers as critical parts of the system, as well as social protection for all app-based drivers.

Uber, Bolt, inDrive and the mandatory health insurance

Since the NHIA’s announcement, the major e-hailing apps in Nigeria, Uber, Bolt and inDrive, have yet to respond. Neither have they undertaken nor disclosed plans to begin implementation of the mandatory health insurance.

However, before the NHIA announcement, Bolt had introduced a health insurance scheme for drivers operating on its platform in partnership with Bastion Health Limited, a Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) in Nigeria.

The company said the discounted health insurance offering was tailored to the needs of independent driver-partners who typically do not have access to traditional employer-sponsored health coverage.

However, the NHIA announcement puts Bolt in a conundrum as it mandates that drivers and contractors have access to traditional employer-sponsored health coverage. It also did not mandate a discounted scheme but full health insurance coverage.

To push for full enforcement, the AUATON had petitioned the state’s Attorney-General, Lawal Pedro (SAN), to urgently enforce a federal government directive mandating ride-hailing, food delivery and logistics apps to provide health insurance for independent employees operating on their apps.

According to the petition seen by Technext, the union lamented that despite various deductions, commissions, and service charges imposed on drivers by Uber, Bolt, and inDrive, drivers are still denied meaningful welfare protection, including health insurance coverage for drivers who risk their lives daily on Lagos roads.

This situation, the petition says, directly contradicts the spirit and objectives of the Federal  Government directive aimed at strengthening social protection for workers in Nigeria’s growing digital economy.

“We therefore respectfully urge the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to investigate the operations of these companies and ensure full compliance with the NHIA Act 2022,  labour protection standards, and all applicable laws regulating digital transport platforms in Lagos State,” the petition read.