Hundreds of Nigerian drivers affiliated with Uber, Bolt, and inDrive staged a protest on March 18 in Lagos, demanding higher fares and reduced commission charges. The drivers argued that platform pricing remains disproportionately low, while commissions of up to 30% significantly erode their earnings, particularly amid rising petrol costs linked to global oil price pressures.
Union representatives indicated that a vast majority of drivers have operated without meaningful profit over the past year, intensifying dissatisfaction across the sector. The protesters marched to the Lagos State Assembly, where they submitted a petition urging lawmakers to intervene and establish fair pricing regulations. A legislator confirmed that the petition would be reviewed.
Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest ride-hailing markets, with Lagos serving as the epicentre of operations due to its population exceeding 20 million.