Drivers operating under the umbrella of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) have criticised a recent claim by ride-hailing company Bolt that its app was the most-downloaded travel and e-mobility app in the country.
In a statement to Technext signed by the Lagos Chapter PRO of the union, Steven Iwindoye, the union accused the company of celebrating the number of times its app has been downloaded, painting a picture of success and progress when the truth on the ground, as far as the drivers are concerned, is a bitter one.
“We, the transport workers and drivers who power this system, cannot stay silent. We ask, how does an app download milestone put food on the table of drivers? How does it solve the crises we face daily?” the union asked.
The union pointed out that behind the claim of impressive app downloads is a company that is exploiting its drivers. Describing Bolt’s commission system as a “killer policy”, the union argued that drivers slave for long hours while the company extracts outrageous percentages from every trip.
“Drivers take all the risks, while the company enjoys the profits,” the statement reads.
The union also criticised the company for unfair suspensions and sanctions, noting that drivers are constantly at the mercy of one-sided policies. Accounts are deactivated without a fair hearing, drivers are penalised arbitrarily, and the rating system is heavily biased against them.
The AUATON further attacked the app’s safety measures, noting that while the company was making a lot of noise about measures like its “dashcams” and “safety funds,” drivers are still victims of robberies, assaults, harassments, and police intimidation on a daily basis.
“Bolt has no concrete, on-ground structure to ensure drivers’ safety beyond app features designed for public relations,” the union said.
The drivers’ union further pointed out that in an industry with such high risks, the company has failed to provide drivers with basic welfare structures like health insurance, pension contributions, or accident cover. Families of drivers injured or killed on duty are left to fend for themselves while the company embarks on what it describes as PR gimmicks at the expense of real solutions.
“Features like ‘family profile’ and ‘cloud dashcams’ may sound innovative, but they do nothing to solve the core problems drivers are crying about – low earnings, poor incentives, security lapses, and exploitative charges,” the drivers said.
AUATON challenges Bolt to celebrate real milestones
Recall that Bolt celebrated being named the most-downloaded travel and mobility app in Nigeria in 2025 so far. The company disclosed this in a statement to Technext, noting that the data was obtained from a digital intelligence analytics company, Sensor Tower.
See also: Bolt is the most downloaded travel and mobility app in Nigeria 2025
According to the shared mobility platform, which operates in more than 50 countries with over 200 million combined global users, this feat puts it above other competitors in the Nigerian market like Uber, Bolt and inDrive. The company also said Nigeria is one of 23 countries where it obtained the status of the most downloaded travel and mobility app.
The drivers’ union, however, stated that it was all an attempt by the e-hailing company to polish its image with half-truths. We say clearly: drivers are tired of being milked dry. It noted that drivers are tired of the gimmicks and policies that strangle rather than support them.
The union said if the company truly wants to celebrate milestones, let them celebrate when a driver can earn decently without killing themselves on the road. They also challenged the company to celebrate when no driver is robbed or assaulted under their watch, when families of drivers have health insurance and welfare coverage and when policies are fair, transparent, and pro-driver. Until then, their celebration is empty noise.
“To Bolt we say: enough of the gimmicks, enough of the exploitation, enough of the killer policies. If you truly want to lead the Nigerian mobility market, lead with fairness, justice, and human dignity for drivers – not just app downloads and PR stunts. We stand firm with Nigerian drivers, and we will continue to speak the truth until every transporter is treated with the respect and fairness they deserve,” the union said.