Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has issued a scathing condemnation of Uber's abrupt withdrawal from the Nigerian market, describing the ride-hailing giant's exit as "unprofessional" and a direct consequence of an "exploitative" business model that has systematically undermined drivers' welfare. The union's national spokesperson, Mr Jossy Adaraniwon, alleged that Uber left the country's ride-hailing market without prior notice to the thousands of Nigerian drivers who built the platform. He described the development as "irresponsible" and a total disregard for workers' rights.
AUATON attributed the exit to what it characterised as an exploitative foundational business model that rejected collective bargaining and prioritised profit over driver welfare. According to the union, this same template was subsequently copied by Bolt and InDrive, contributing to a "race to the bottom" in Nigeria's ride-hailing sector. The union said the situation had led to longer waiting times, lower driver earnings and fewer active drivers due to poor working conditions.
In a direct warning to the remaining major players, Adaraniwon cautioned Bolt and InDrive against continuing on the same path. "If you continue to operate without creating a genuine atmosphere for collective bargaining with AUATON, you will suffer the same fate," he declared. The union demanded fair pay, welfare packages, transparency, safety and decent working conditions in line with International Labour Organisation standards. "To Bolt and InDrive: The door for dialogue is open. But time is running out," Adaraniwon said.
Comrade Jolaiya Seun Moses, AUATON's business partnerships and proposals manager, argued that years of aggressive price competition among platforms had created the unsustainable "race to the bottom" that leaves drivers and vehicle investors unable to recover their capital. He noted that the company's exit should be read as a warning to other operators, stressing that the current pricing model is unsustainable in Nigeria's high-cost operating environment. "This is not only going to affect Uber. It is going to affect Bolt, inDrive and every other app if the situation is not corrected. Uber leaving is a very bad signal for the other platforms. They need to wake up and correct the mistakes," Moses said.
Uber, which launched in Lagos in 2014, confirmed on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, that it would cease ride-hailing operations in Nigeria and Uganda effective immediately. However, the company maintained that the decision was not related to recent regulatory directives at Nigerian airports. As drivers and the union grapple with the fallout, AUATON has made its position clear: it will not allow foreign platforms to exploit Nigerian drivers and leave without accountability.
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