Lagos: LagRide drivers plan boycot over alleged policy crackdown

Drivers of LagRide, the Lagos state-owned ride-hailing service, are threatening to suspend operations in response to what they describe as unfair enforcement tactics by the platform’s management.

The dispute stems from warnings that Lagos State Task Force officials may be deployed to arrest drivers accused of violating company policies.

Steven Iwindoye, spokesperson for the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria, raised the alarm in Ikeja, condemning the platform’s aggressive stance.

According to LagRide management, some drivers have been actively discouraging passengers from using the app, instead directing them to rival services such as InDrive and Bolt. Drivers were also accused of rejecting trips without valid reasons and accepting cash payments, both of which violate company policy.

In a recent notice, LagRide management warned that regulatory officers and the state task force would monitor operations, and non-compliant drivers risked severe penalties, including arrests, vehicle impoundment, and possible legal action.

Reacting to the threats, Iwindoye cautioned LagRide against resorting to heavy-handed measures, stating that impounding vehicles and arresting drivers would escalate tensions.

“If the government does not intervene, we will have no choice but to stage protests and shut down LagRide services,”; he said.

He explained that many drivers turned to cash transactions after LagRide disabled the app’s cash payment option, allegedly to compel drivers to remit earnings weekly. He also criticized the financial burdens imposed on drivers, claiming that CIG Motors, LagRide’s new managing entity, levies multiple charges while failing to cover vehicle maintenance costs.

CIG Motors, a Chinese state-owned automaker behind GAC Motors, took control of LagRide’s operations after the Lagos government ended its partnership with Zenolynk Technology Ltd., the original app developer, in March. Following the transition, CIG launched a new app after Zenolynk reportedly shut down the previous platform.

Barely a month into its full control, CIG Motors now faces mounting tensions as LagRide drivers continue their offline boycott, demanding urgent fixes to app-related issues and better working conditions.