Naija drivers dey plan make dem create their own ride-hailing apps to fight Uber and Bolt

Lagos ride-hailing drivers don dey consider serious plan to create their own local apps wey go compete with big international platforms like Uber, Bolt, and inDrive. This idea wey drivers dey yarn about na because of frustration from low earnings, high operational costs, and rigid fare structures wey dey make life hard for drivers for Lagos and Ogun State.

The whole matter come hot pass after three-day coordinated strike wey happen from 16 to 18 March 2026. The strike wey Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) organize make thousands of drivers log off from Uber, Bolt, inDrive, and Lagride platforms at the same time. This action cause serious disruption for ride availability across Lagos and neighbouring Ogun State as drivers show their anger for the current system.

Union officials talk say participation for the strike na widespread, and e show how drivers don tire for the difficult conditions wey dem dey work under. “For years, drivers don dey operate under extremely difficult conditions,” the union talk for statement wey dem issue during the protest. “The cost of fuel continue to dey rise, vehicle maintenance don become more expensive, and operational expenses keep dey increase, while fares remain unsustainable.”

According to AUATON, average e-hailing driver for Lagos fit generate about N60,000 for gross daily earnings, but deductions and operating costs dey cut the money well well. Platform commissions, fuel consumption, feeding, maintenance expenses, and payments to vehicle owners (since many drivers dey operate hired cars) dey leave drivers with wetin union estimate to be less than N3,000 for daily take-home income.

Union leaders argue say the situation dey force drivers to work excessively long hours just to survive, and e dey raise safety concerns for both drivers and passengers. “Many drivers now dey spend up to 15 hours for road just to break even,” the union talk, warn say fatigue-related accidents dey become more likely under such conditions.

Beyond earnings matter, drivers don also raise concerns about account deactivations, safety risks, and policy changes wey companies introduce without proper consultation with drivers. The union maintain say repeated meetings with platform representatives don produce small progress, and na why drivers escalate their demands through industrial action and appeals to government authorities.

For their own side, ride-hailing companies dey present different perspective. Bolt defend their earnings structure during February media briefing for Lagos amid growing scrutiny of platform economics. The company talk say public debates dey focus narrowly on commission percentages without considering the broader operational ecosystem wey dey required to run digital marketplaces.

Using typical N5,000 trip as example, Bolt talk say drivers retain more than 75 percent of the total fare, while the remaining portion dey cover platform commissions, taxes, and operational investments. According to the company, these deductions dey fund safety infrastructure, insurance coverage, customer support, technology development, and demand generation wey dey designed to ensure drivers receive consistent ride requests.

“Sustainable ride-hailing no be about commissions in isolation,” Bolt Head of Regulatory and Policy for Africa, Weyinmi Aghadiuno, talk during the briefing. Aghadiuno argue say platforms must balance driver earnings with rider affordability and service reliability to keep the marketplace functioning.

Bolt also acknowledge say Nigeria economic environment, wey dey mark by fuel price volatility and rising vehicle maintenance costs, don place pressure across the entire mobility ecosystem. Dem note say pricing models and incentives dey continuously reviewed to reflect changing realities.

Last week, Uber talk say drivers remain central to their operations and insist say engagement channels remain open. “Drivers dey at the heart of our business, and we remain committed to engaging constructively with them through regular roundtable discussions,” company spokesperson talk in response to the strike.

The company add say their economic impact assessment indicate say drivers collectively earn N6.1bn annually through access to the platform, argue say digital marketplaces must work for both drivers and riders to remain viable. Uber talk say dem dey continuously monitor local conditions to ensure marketplace sustainability.

The disagreement over engagement become another flashpoint during the shutdown, with AUATON disputing Uber public claims of dialogue. The union talk say no formal communication don reach through their official channels, describe the company statements as misleading. Uber no don publicly address that specific allegation but dem reiterate their commitment to ongoing discussions.

While negotiations dey continue, more transformative conversation dey emerge among drivers themselves: the possibility of building indigenous ride-hailing platforms. Union leaders wey talk to The PUNCH talk say locally developed apps fit allow drivers to participate for decision-making around fares and commissions, potentially replace percentage-based deductions with subscription models or cooperative ownership structures.

For many drivers, the idea represent attempt to reclaim control over digital ecosystem wey dem believe currently favour multinational platforms. The push towards local alternatives reflect broader tensions within the global gig economy, particularly for developing markets where inflation and currency volatility fit quickly undermine earnings models wey dem design elsewhere.

Nigeria rising fuel prices and cost-of-living pressures don intensify scrutiny of algorithm-driven pricing systems wey automatically adjust fares based on demand rather than local economic realities. Drivers dey argue say international platforms no dey consider enough the specific challenges wey Nigerian drivers dey face.

The idea for local apps no be new one – e first float for 2024 but the recent strike make am come back with more force. Emmanuel Obiora, Uber driver, talk say: “I don talk am countless times: the only solution na say we get our own app. We need app wey go work in favour of drivers, not to the detriment of drivers.”

But building ride-hailing app like Bolt or Uber no be small matter. According to industry estimates, e dey cost between $30,000 and $250,000 for full-featured version, depending on complexity, team location, and features. This na big challenge for drivers wey already dey struggle with low earnings.

For now, e no evident whether these drivers don develop any homegrown app, but the conversation dey gain momentum. Letters wey dem submit to Lagos State House of Assembly and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu call for legislative intervention to regulate commissions, introduce transparent fare-setting mechanisms, and strengthen safety protections within the industry.

The union argue say while ride-hailing companies dey benefit from Nigeria large market, drivers dey bear the financial risks associated with vehicle ownership, fuel costs, and daily operations. “The app-based transport sector remain critical to Lagos State economy,” AUATON talk for their petition, add say without regulatory oversight, the industry fit become economically unsustainable.

As the matter dey unfold, all eyes dey on how this struggle between drivers and international platforms go end. Whether drivers go succeed for their plan to create local alternatives or whether international companies go make meaningful changes to address driver concerns, na wetin go determine the future of ride-hailing business for Nigeria.