Cabzero clarifies ₦80,000 daily target, says drivers are not barred from Uber, Bolt, inDrive

Lagos-based e-mobility company, Cabzero, has clarified reports that it demands an ₦80,000 daily target from drivers, insisting that the figure is a vehicle revenue target, not necessarily remittance. The company’s Chief Marketing Officer, Michael Osamwonyi, disclosed this in a chat with Technext following reports by drivers about alleged exploitative practices by the company.

According to drivers who claimed to have attended a meeting with representatives of the company, they were required to remit ₦80,000 daily, which would amount to ₦560,000 weekly and ₦2.24 million monthly. For remuneration, the drivers said that they were offered ₦5000 daily wage (which translates to about ₦150,000 monthly).

But Osamwonyi says this is simply a misrepresentation. He also explained that drivers earn more than the reported figure.

“The ₦80,000 daily figure is a vehicle revenue target, not a sum drivers remit to CabZero. Driver earnings are separate: a guaranteed base, performance pay, a share of revenue above target, and platform incentives,” he said.

According to the drivers, the company is also mandating prospective drivers to put in 18 hours of work daily.

A leading cause of accidents in e-hailing is inadequate rest. An 18-hour shift only allows for six hours of rest daily. This is quite alarming because it comes at a time when some e-hailing apps are setting up features to log out drivers after 12 hours.

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Moreover, that requirement runs contrary to labour law standards worldwide, with acceptable working hours ranging from 8 to 12 hours.

Finally, the drivers claimed that they were required to discontinue using rival platforms like Uber, Bolt and inDrive. To guarantee this, the company reportedly requires drivers to hand over control of their Uber, Bolt and inDrive account details.

“Our take is that ₦5,000 for 18 hours of work after an ₦80,000 remittance is exploitation. Even with free charging, this is not sustainable and violates fair labour standards. We are calling on AUATON to intervene as soon as possible. Drivers, beware. Do not sign anything yet,” the drivers said.

Cabzero responds

Responding to the claims, Cabzero’s Marketing Officer, Michael Osamwonyi, said contrary to claims that drivers are barred from working on other platforms, the company has no such policy.

“Drivers are not barred from Uber, Bolt or inDrive. The programme requires drivers to operate on those platforms as part of the CabZero fleet. A driver’s personal account remains theirs and is associated with the fleet only for the duration of the engagement,” he said.

He also said there is no policy requiring an 18-hour workday, as the schedule is 15 working days a month on an alternating-day basis so that drivers get their deserved rest and recharge. Therefore, monthly figures extrapolated from daily numbers over a full calendar month mischaracterise the picture.

The company is also responsible for charging and maintenance of the electric vehicles.

Osamwonyi finally noted that the programme in question is still in its nascent stages and the company is still reviewing it.

“On scope, the programme in your report is CabZero’s retail driver pilot, which is distinct from our corporate mobility platform. It is early-stage, and we are reviewing it, including the clarity of our contract language. Where a driver’s experience has differed from the model as designed, we want to hear and address it,” he said.

Cabzero was launched in April 2025 as a business of Qoray Mobility and Energies by Olabanjo Alimi and co-founders Akinkunmi Akingbogun and Ayo Falola.

The e-mobility company prides itself on being Nigeria’s first all-electric fleet solution, providing eco-friendly electric vehicle (EV) leasing, staff commute plans, and scheduled rides primarily centred around Lagos to help businesses cut carbon emissions and transport costs.

In a country like Nigeria where operational costs are skyrocketing, the company says managing corporate carpools has become increasingly complex.

Consequently, businesses are forced to outsource their transportation needs to ride-hailing companies and models that offer little control and unreliable service quality. There is, therefore, a gap in efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability in corporate mobility solutions. This gap is what Cabzero aims to fill.

The platform launched with a mission to empower businesses to thrive through smart, efficient, and sustainable mobility solutions. It currently offers three services; the first is an electric vehicle leasing service dedicated to specific mobility plans. There is also a staff commute service, which optimises transport solutions for employees.

Finally, there is an on-demand ride-hailing service which offers affordable, electric-powered rides that are available to everyone, anytime. This is the category these drivers fall under.