e-Hailing drivers in Edo state have resolved to raise their fares by 50 per cent of the official prices on the Uber or Bolt app. This was disclosed to Technext by the chairman of the Edo State Council of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), Comrade Russell Eghaghe.
According to him, the increase, which will come into effect by Saturday, November 15, is intended to improve driver earnings amid dwindling income from the official ride-hailing apps.
“The 50% price increase on all e-hailing rides will officially commence on the 15th of this month (November). This adjustment is aimed at improving our earnings and ensuring better value for our time and service,” the chairman said.
Responding to a query about the fairness of such an increase, seeing as it will run contrary to prices on the app, the chairman noted that the real unfairness is in the fact that it is fair for everybody else to adjust their prices to reflect rising costs, but when e-hailing drivers do the same, it suddenly becomes greed.
He pointed out that day after day, Nigerians wake up to new price increases — from fuel to food, rent to spare parts. He said the government increases VAT and import duties, landlords raise rent without remorse, and traders adjust the prices of goods and commodities daily. He went on to accuse an e-hailing company like Bolt of quietly increasing its commissions without seeking drivers’ consent, all in a bid to meet up.
See also: Bolt vows to permanently remove Port Harcourt drivers who hike fares
He noted that no one calls them greedy or insensitive for raising prices, as everyone is simply trying to survive in the harsh reality of the economy. However, when e-hailing drivers do the same, they suddenly become greedy and insensitive, a situation he described as deeply unfair.
“When e-hailing drivers decide to increase their ride fares just to stay afloat, suddenly it becomes a problem. Suddenly, people say, ‘They want to kill the market.’ How fair is that? Are drivers not part of the same society that suffers these economic changes? Are we not human beings with families to feed, bills to pay, and cars to maintain? It is heartbreaking that when others increase prices, it is called ‘adjustment’, but when drivers do the same, it is called ‘greed.’ This double standard must stop,” the chairman said.
He noted that e-hailing drivers in Edo state are hardworking men and women battling rising fuel costs, maintenance fees, and endless deductions. As such, the fare increase is not about exploitation, but only about survival and fairness. It is also about allowing drivers to continue offering safe, reliable service without being driven into poverty by an unbalanced system.
“Every sector has adjusted to meet the times, including the very platforms that drivers operate under. So why should drivers be denied that same right? We call on all riders, partners, and the general public to understand that this adjustment is not against you; it is for the sustainability of the service you depend on. When drivers are treated fairly, everyone benefits. Let fairness lead. Let understanding guide. Because survival is not a sin,” he finished.
Edo state drivers are following the Port Harcourt and Abuja playbooks
This is not the first time e-hailing drivers in a given state will be declaring a fare increase. In 2024, drivers in Abuja released a document detailing their new price per kilometre, pegging it at 450 naira. This year, Technext reported how e-hailing drivers in Abeokuta are raising fares by as much as 200 per cent. One of the drivers explained that Uber and Bolt’s pricing model for the city does not allow the drivers to make sufficient revenue to cover their operational costs.
“I barely make N20,000 on an average day. And, I am expected to fuel the car, maintain it and take care of myself from that. This month alone, I spent over N80,000 on replacing shock absorbers alone”, he explained.
More recently, drivers in Rivers State declared a 50 per cent fare increase to help them earn a decent living. Speaking with Technext at the time, Rivers state chairman of the union, Comrade Amos Omoruyi, expressed his full support for the collective action, stating:
“The decision to apply a 50% fare adjustment is a fair, reasonable, and united step towards sustainability and economic balance for all drivers in Rivers State. We appeal to the good people of Port Harcourt, our esteemed riders and passengers, to understand and support this decision, as it is not a protest, but a survival measure driven by the realities of today’s economy.”
Following this, the ride-hailing company, Bolt, threatened to permanently deactivate any driver caught charging increased fares outside of the fee agreed on the app. To this, the national wing of the union, through its spokesperson, Comrade Jossy Adaraniwon, said Bolt and all other e-hailing apps lack the authority to charge fares on behalf of drivers.
“Bolt does not have the mandate or authority of app-based workers to pre-fix or set a default trip fare for either a dynamic or negotiated model app. We view their continuous fixing of prices as oppressive, unfair and unacceptable, and this will no longer be tolerated. We are the transporters, and we are the ones who know the right fares for the services we render, without overburdening the riders too. They should only negotiate their commission with us, not fix our prices,” the union said.
