Bolt Comfort drivers decry low fares, begin no-air-condition campaign in Lagos

E-hailing drivers operating under Bolt’s Comfort category are decrying what they described as low fares in the category. Speaking about their ordeals, the drivers, who complained that they began noticing the fare reduction after the exit of Uber from the Nigerian market, said the fares on the Comfort Category are too low to be accepted for the Basic Category.

Read also: Lagos drivers to shut down Bolt and inDrive in October, demand 10% commission, fare restructure

As a result of this, the drivers are launching a campaign of putting off their air-conditioning during Comfort rides, which ultimately defeats the idea of comfort the service is supposed to provide in the first place.

One driver narrated an encounter with a rider who booked a trip from Ikeja GRA to Toyin Street on Comfort, with the fare displayed as ₦2900.

“A man ordered a ride on Bolt from Ikeja GRA going to Mojidi Street at Toyin Street based on Comfort ₦2,900 and asked me to turn on the AC. I said I can’t turn on the AC, and the man replied to me and said, but he ordered Comfort. Instantly, I told him if he can’t go, he should drop, and I cancelled the ride. Because of ₦2,900 to Toyin, I should be on AC on a cold evening? That’s no no,” the driver said.

“Bolt will give me Comfort for ₦1,880, and you expect me to put on AC because it says Comfort?? Hell no,” another driver said.

“No AC for Bolt ride, as Comfort price has dropped since early this month too, I hardly use AC for riders, especially if the price I picked on the Comfort ride is not ok with me,” yet another driver said.

The drivers also linked the lower fares they are seeing to Uber’s exit, arguing that Bolt now faces less competition in the market.

“Since Uber announced their exit from Nigeria, Bolt has systematically reduced the fare because they feel they are now in control of the market, but that will be a misconception because lack of drivers is what pushed Uber out of the market. Bolt should not make the same mistake as Uber, else drivers may just leave them. In summary, Bolt should not be shortchanging drivers to win Uber passengers over. Uber riders are not looking for a cheaper ride but an alternative to Uber regardless,” one driver analysed.

Bolt Comfort fare slash amid fuel price hike

The development is coming at a time when drivers say they are crumbling under the weight of skyrocketing operational costs, driven by soaring fuel prices. Fuel prices rose from about ₦1,200 per litre in August to an average of ₦1,500 in September, representing about a 25 per cent rise. Despite the steep rise, the e-hailing companies are yet to adjust their prices.

Last week, the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) declared a mega protest in October that will see them shut down the Bolt and inDrive apps in Lagos. According to a statement signed by the Chairman of the Lagos State Council of the union, Comrade Jaiyesimi Azeez, the union noted that rising operational costs, vehicle financing obligations, fuel expenses, maintenance costs, insurance, data subscriptions, government levies and other daily expenses have placed enormous financial pressure on drivers.

However, the app companies have refused to adjust their existing fare and commission structures to reflect these realities, creating serious concerns about the sustainability of the profession. The union will be demanding a fare review, noting that app companies must review fares to reflect the prevailing economic realities and the actual cost of operating a vehicle.

The union said it will also be demanding a substantial reduction in commissions with a target of not more than 10 per cent, which will be subject to negotiations and a transparent explanation of any additional charges or deductions.

While the union is organising and preparing itself for the showdown, drivers themselves appear to be taking matters into their own hands by turning off their air conditioning during rides. The general thinking is that it helps conserve fuel, thus reducing operational costs from that end. They also say this is a better alternative than negotiating fares outside the app, although drivers who want air conditioning are welcome to pay more for it.