Ima Elijah

<h3>The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON), representing e-hailing drivers, has announced the suspension of its operations due to dissatisfaction with low prices offered by app-based companies. </h3>

The union demanded a significant increase in prices of 200 percent, along with a 50 percent reduction in commission fees.

In a statement released by the union, it was revealed that the app-based companies had only raised prices by 25 to 30 percent, which fell far short of the union's demands. The strike, which began on Wednesday, June 07, 2023, also serves as a response to the substantial commission fees imposed by Uber and Bolt, two of Nigeria's largest ride-hailing companies.

Drivers expressed their concerns over the high commission rates, arguing that they did not align with industry benchmark rates and made it challenging for them to sustain their livelihoods. They had previously requested the companies to lower their commission fees to more reasonable levels.

The recent change in the industry coincides with the government's decision to discontinue subsidies on petrol, leading to higher fuel prices in Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa. This further added to the financial strain faced by app-based drivers.

The union has urged all app-based workers across the country to stand united in their fight until their demands are met. In a statement, the union emphasised their expertise in the operation and technical aspects of ride-hailing companies.

They highlighted that app companies could break even with commission fees below five percent, despite the union's recommendation of a flat commission of 10 percent or a 50 percent reduction from the current rates. The union believes that such adjustments are necessary to cover maintenance costs, spare parts, overhead expenses, and the recent fuel price increase.

Expressing frustration with the app companies' lack of responsiveness, the union declared the shutdown of all services on ride-hailing applications, effective from Wednesday. They cited dictatorial practices, disregard for workers' welfare and security, and an unwillingness to engage in constructive dialogue as reasons for their collective action.

A Bolt driver (image used for illustration) [Bolt]

The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON), representing e-hailing drivers, has announced the suspension of its operations due to dissatisfaction with low prices offered by app-based companies

Bolt, Uber drivers strike over low prices

Jude Egbas

<h1>Cab-hailing companies operating in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital and most populous city, will now pay a road maintenance fee to the state government.</h1>

This was one of the resolutions reached after a meeting between the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the executives of e-hailing services like Uber and Bolt on Friday, August 14, 2020.

Both parties agreed that “there must be comprehensive insurance cover which will cover drivers and passengers,” says Chief Press Secretary to the Lagos State Governor, Gboyega Akosile.

There has been social media uproar over new operating license fees levied on the companies in a tough business climate.

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, The Lagos State Govt had a meeting with the E-Hailing Ride Stakeholders which was chaired by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr <a href="https://twitter.com/jidesanwoolu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jidesanwoolu</a> at the Lagos House, Marina .The Following resolutions were made which was agreed by ALL Parties: <a href="https://t.co/FXmYewitYw">pic.twitter.com/FXmYewitYw</a>&mdash; Gboyega Akosile (@gboyegaakosile) <a href="https://twitter.com/gboyegaakosile/status/1294306187501068290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
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This week, <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/business/uber-bolt-lagos-squeezes-ride-hailing-services-some-more/nkphcyy">news emerged that</a> a new Lagos state government policy has mandated e-hailing taxi firms to pay N25 million annually to the state government per 1,001 vehicles for an operational license.

The firms were also asked to pay N10 million annually for renewal of said license for every 1, 001 cars in their pool.

New entrants to the business were asked to part with a N10 million provisional fee to the state government before the commencement of operations, various media outlets had reported.

Akosile says during the meeting, the Lagos state government and the cab hailing companies agreed to reduce operational license fee by 20 percent. “A flat rate fee of N20 to be known as a road improvement fund will be levied on each ride/trip.

“There will be a 90-day compliance with documentation for the drivers. There will be a one-stop shop for all the documentation (especially LASSRA Card- Lagos State Resident Registration Agency).

“E-hailing companies will work with various bodies in the business for a good relationship. There must be due diligence and background checks on all drivers. Riders have also been asked to desist from offline trips and transactions and must make necessary data available to the government,” Akosile adds.&nbsp;

The Uber app in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital (Uber)

There were reports that the cab-hailing firms have been asked to use newer cars for their operations. Akosile says this is fake news.

“The idea of e-hailing companies using a car of “3 years” and below is fake news. It is for what we call ‘corporate cabs’. This has nothing to do with the e-hailing business,” he says.

There have been fears that the new guidelines for cab-hailing services in Lagos will inevitably lead to a hike in fares for the end user, with the Nigerian economy in dire straits no thanks to the global COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

Sanwo-Olu shares coronavirus containment plans with the press (Twitter @jidesanwoolu)

Operational license fee of the ride hailing companies has been reduced by 20 percent.

Uber, Bolt to pay road maintenance fee to Lagos State Government

Damilare Famuyiwa

<h1>Barely two weeks after a 22-year-old man identified as Daibo Davies, plunged into the Lagos lagoon from the 3rd Mainland Bridge, another man has jumped into the lagoon, in what is believed to be yet another suicide attempt.</h1>

Recall that on Saturday, February 15, 2020,<a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/metro/man-jumps-into-lagos-lagoon-from-third-mainland-bridge/qqpwg0y" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;a 21-year-old jumped into the lagoon</a>&nbsp;after alighting from the Uber car he boarded, on the pretext of having a stomach upset.

After begging the Uber driver to stop so he could relieve himself, Davies reportedly climbed the pavement of the bridge and jumped into the water.

Similar to Davies' suicide move, the man whose identity is yet-to-be-identified, alighted from an Uber and jumped into the lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge, around midnight on Wednesday, February 26, 2020.

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Last night RRS officers on 3MB helped rescue this man who attempted suicide by diving into the lagoon. He alighted from a call cab saying he wanted to urinate but jumped off the Bridge. Luckily he landed on the log of wood in the lagoon before being rescued to the hospital. 👇 <a href="https://t.co/KYdsjGRB4J">pic.twitter.com/KYdsjGRB4J</a>&mdash; Lagos State Police Command II (@rrslagos767) <a href="https://twitter.com/rrslagos767/status/1233016223509729280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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According to Lagos Police Command, the man was lucky enough to have landed on the log of wood in the lagoon before being rescued to Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where he's receiving treatment.

The man's identity is yet-to-be-disclosed.

Another man jumps into Lagos lagoon from 3rd Mainland Bridge

<h1>The sister of Daibo Davies, an Uber passenger, who plunged into Lagos lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge, Omasan, has sought the recovery of her brother's body.</h1>

Recall that on Saturday, February 15, 2020,<a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/metro/man-jumps-into-lagos-lagoon-from-third-mainland-bridge/qqpwg0y" rel="noopener noreferrer"> the 21-year-old jumped into the lagoon</a> after alighting from the Uber he boarded on the pretext of having a stomach upset.

Following the incident, rescuers were mobilized to the scene for the recovery of Davies body.

In an interview with Channels TV, Omasan urged Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and other government agencies to find and recover the body of her brother.

Omasan said she's yet to believe her brother jumped into the lagoon, adding that hey both had great plans for the future.

“Toju on his normal self will never jump into the Lagoon because we spoke and he told me that he could not wait to go and serve in Abuja. I told him that I would come and see him there because I school at the University of Abuja," Omasan was quoted as saying while wondering why her brother killed himself.

Davies mother had said her son was planning for his <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/metro/mother-of-lasu-graduate-who-jumped-into-lagoon-reveals-sons-plan/83mbge1" rel="noopener noreferrer">master's degree in Canada</a>, after his graduation from LASU.

The deceased, whose body is yet to be found, according to the mother, was also preparing to undergo his National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) programme before the incident happened.

She added that her late son had no previous record of depression or drug abuse, as he appealed to the Lagos government to intensify search for her son’s body.

The deceased's sister said it's unbelievable that her brother killed himself.

Sister of LASU graduate who jumped into Lagos lagoon seeks recovery of brother's body

ahmad aliyu

The suspects, Humble Peter-Robert, and Gideon Archibong, were arrested on Monday, February 4, while reportedly removing the car's parts for sale to a scrap metal dealer.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Police stated that the suspects were arrested by the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, following a directive from the Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Mu'azu.

Police revealed that Peter-Robert, an ex-convict and a bus conductor, had conspired with three others, now at large, to hijack and sell off the car.

It was gathered that on the said date of the hijack, he flagged down the car of the deceased at about 11pm on the Lekki axis of the state.

The suspect and his accomplice who told the driver they were heading to Ikate reportedly told the driver that they wanted to ease themselves. It was at this point they descended on the driver.

While being paraded, Peter-Robert confessed to the crime.

He said, "I was sitting in front of the car with the driver. We seized and hit him with stones several times. He complained that he was sick. We pushed him out on the road and went away with the car, a wine Hyundai Elantra.

“At the Beach Road, Lekki, where we parked the car, we swapped the number plate with that of a Volkswagen Passat car, FKJ 708 CA, that was close by. We left it for two days hoping to contact buyers.

"Emma, also an Uber driver, is our ring leader. He noticed that the driver was operating offline before deciding that we should hijack the car. The following day when one of us visited where we had hijacked the car, he noticed the guy’s remains were already in a police body bag.

"We contacted Archibong to assist us to dispose off the car. The buyers we invited indicated that they could only buy the car parts. It was in the process of dismantling the car that the RRS patrol vehicle spotted us and arrested two of us. Emma, Dolapo and David are on the run."

Investigation is still ongoing on the case and the suspects will be made to face justice, according to the Police.

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two suspects for killing a Uber driver and stealing his car.

Police arrest killers of Uber driver, recover stolen vehicle

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