Bolt, inDrive drivers demand higher fares as fuel and living costs bite ‎

Ride-hailing drivers on Bolt and inDrive are pressing for higher fares, arguing that app pricing no longer covers the cost of doing the job. I couldn't find First Daily's own report behind the headline, so this draft draws on other coverage of the dispute.

The latest protest
In a recent Reuters report, hundreds of drivers on Uber, Bolt and inDrive marched in Lagos over low fares and high commissions, and urged the Lagos State Assembly to mandate higher pricing. They said commissions of up to 30% leave them with little income, at a time when petrol prices have surged after the Iran conflict pushed up global oil prices.

The drivers submitted a petition, and a lawmaker said the assembly would consider it. Uber, Bolt and inDrive did not respond to requests for comment. That report is undated in the version I found, so check its date before citing it as the current protest.

What the drivers say
The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) says the problem is not limited to one platform. It notes that drivers on inDrive face similar cost pressures, and argues that vehicles cannot be maintained on fares below operating costs.

Drivers have also staged repeated protests against Bolt and Uber in major cities, including coordinated strikes in Lagos and Abuja since 2021, over commissions. In a separate Abuja dispute, drivers threatened a three-day strike over low fares, high commissions, rising fuel prices, maintenance costs and neglect of driver welfare.

Riders pay the gap informally
BusinessDay reported that drivers are increasingly asking riders to pay above the official price to offset high petrol costs, including on inDrive, where fares are negotiated. One Abuja rider paid N2,000 more than the N13,000 his Bolt app quoted for an airport trip.

The platforms' position
Bolt Nigeria says its pricing model balances passenger affordability with sustainable driver earnings, and that it is monitoring changes in operating costs. Last October, Bolt warned Port Harcourt drivers that a planned 50% fare hike was unauthorized, pointing to its Price Bidding feature that lets drivers propose their own fares. Drivers counter that this sidesteps the real issue. The union is demanding a 5% cap on commissions.

What to watch
Whether the Lagos Assembly acts on the petition, and whether Bolt and inDrive respond on fares or commissions, will decide if this ends in regulation, a strike or more informal surcharges.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/Science communicator, Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,United States Institute of Peace (USIP), [email protected] +233555275880

Sources
Reuters via Channel Africa, "Nigeria's e-hailing drivers protest pricing as fuel costs rise": https://www.channelafrica.co.za/channelafrica/?p=29191
The Guardian Nigeria, "Bolt, drivers disagree over fares as pressure on ride-hailing intensifies": https://guardian.ng/?p=2931183
TechCabal, "Bolt tested inDrive's fare negotiation model in Nigeria": https://techcabal.com/2025/05/19/bolt-fare-negotiation/
BusinessDay, "Drivers claim apps underquote rates": https://businessday.ng/news/article/ride-hailing-drivers-adjust-prices-on-high-petrol-cost/
TechEconomy, "Bolt warns Port Harcourt drivers against 50% fare hike": https://techeconomy.ng/bolt-warns-port-harcourt-drivers-against-fare-hike/
Technext via MEXC News, "1500 Uber, Bolt, inDrive drivers plan 3-day strike in Abuja": https://www.mexc.com/news/617345