Lagos app drivers are threatening to take Bolt and inDrive offline in October unless the platforms cut commissions and lift fares, weeks after Uber quit Nigeria.
The Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has called a “mega” action in Lagos. Lagos council chairman Jaiyesimi Azeez says the aim is to force talks on fares, commissions and welfare. BusinessDay coverage stresses this is a drivers’ withdrawal of service — not a company decision to close the apps.
Uber stopped Nigerian operations on 2 September 2026 after years of commission disputes and higher running costs since the 2023 fuel subsidy removal. Drivers say Bolt and inDrive then picked up Uber’s riders while keeping high take rates.
What AUATON wants
Core demands reported across BusinessDay, TechNext24 and Legit.ng include:
- A commission cap around 10% (Bolt’s driver material is cited at 20%; some inDrive complaints cite deductions up to 25%)
- A fare review that matches fuel, maintenance, data, levies and waiting time
- Clear trip breakdowns of what riders paid and what drivers received
- Consultation before fare or policy changes
- Health insurance, accident cover and emergency support
About 2,000 drivers under the Drivers Liberation Movement have also petitioned Nigeria’s Public Complaints Commission over inDrive fare cuts and deactivations. MoreBranches reports a PCC hearing invited for 5 October 2026 in Lagos.
Will it stick?
Past strikes have faded because hire-purchase and daily remittance drivers cannot stay offline for long. AUATON says it is lining up local platforms as temporary earning options and remains open to negotiation. No single fixed shutdown day has been widely confirmed.
Petrol pressure is part of the backdrop: Dangote Refinery raised pump prices in mid-September, with Lagos retail near ₦1,400 a litre in some reports, while app fares have not kept pace.