Uber Technologies Inc. has announced that drivers on its platform in Nigeria collectively generate about ₦6.1 billion in annual earnings, even as a strike by ride-hailing operators continues to disrupt services in Lagos.
The industrial action, which started earlier in the week, has seen drivers across major platforms including Uber, Bolt, and inDrive log off their apps, leading to reduced ride availability across the city.
Driver unions say the protest was triggered by rising operational expenses such as fuel and vehicle maintenance, combined with low fares and difficult working conditions. The situation has once again brought attention to growing tensions within Lagos’s ride-hailing ecosystem.
Reacting to the development, Uber reaffirmed its commitment to drivers, describing them as central to its operations. The company stated that it remains open to engagement and continues to hold discussions aimed at addressing drivers’ concerns.
According to Uber’s 2023 Economic Impact Report for Nigeria, the ₦6.1 billion represents the estimated additional income earned annually by drivers using the platform nationwide. The company, however, noted that individual earnings differ based on factors like number of trips, working hours, and operating costs.
Uber, which began operations in Nigeria in 2014 starting from Lagos, has since expanded to cities such as Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan, emerging as one of the leading ride-hailing services in the country.
The ongoing strike is not the first of its kind, as drivers in Lagos have previously staged similar protests over fare structures, commission charges, and rising costs. The recurring disputes highlight the persistent challenges in balancing driver welfare with platform operations.
Uber said it prefers dialogue as a path forward, with the outcome of ongoing engagements likely to influence future pricing models, commission structures, and overall working conditions in the ride-hailing sector.
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