Uber and Bolt drivers operating in Abuja under the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) have threatened to withdraw their services in protest against what they described as unfair treatment, poor earnings, and the persistent neglect of driver welfare by ride-hailing companies.
Union leaders said the planned action reflects growing frustration among drivers who have endured low fares, rising operational costs, and excessive commission deductions, arguing that the current structure places an unsustainable burden on those providing the service.
The Vice Chairman of the union’s FCT Council, Evans Agada, who also chairs the strike planning committee, said repeated efforts to resolve the issues through dialogue had failed, leaving drivers with no option but collective action.
According to the union, the three-day strike is scheduled to run from February 9 to February 11, targeting app-based platforms including Uber, Bolt, and inDrive, with the action taking place within the Federal Capital Territory.
Agada said more than 1,500 drivers had already committed to shutting down operations within 24 hours of the strike declaration, adding that participation was expected to increase as more drivers joined the protest.
“We own our vehicles, we maintain them, we fuel them, yet we are treated as disposable tools. Enough is enough,” he said, stressing that the level of support demonstrated how widespread the grievances had become.
He criticised what he described as a one-sided partnership arrangement, saying, “You cannot call someone a partner and treat them like a slave. A true partnership comes with fair earnings, transparency, respect, and protection.”
The union said its demands include higher base fares, reduced commission charges, transparent pricing systems, insurance and welfare coverage, and an end to arbitrary account deactivations, adding: “We are not asking for luxury; we are asking for fairness and dignity.”
