Ride-hailing drivers operating under the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) have formally petitioned the management of LagRide and its Chinese partner, CIG Motors, citing persistent failures in the company’s app functionality, unmet contractual commitments, and controversial policies. The complaints were outlined in a detailed letter signed by the union’s Public Relations Officer, Steven Iwindoye, who accused the company of poor execution and disregard for both the well-being of its drivers, referred to as “captains”, and Nigerian regulatory frameworks.
The union expressed deep frustration over what it described as systemic inefficiencies within the LagRide platform. Drivers based in outer regions of Lagos, such as Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe, Igando, Abule Egba, and Alagbado, reportedly face prolonged periods without trip requests unless they travel to high-demand areas like Ikeja or the Island. This limitation, according to the union, has not only reduced earning opportunities but has also led many commuters in these underserved regions to abandon the service altogether.
According to the union, the launch of LagRide lacked foundational components such as comprehensive market research, advertising strategies, and visibility studies which are all critical elements for any viable tech-driven transport solution. These oversights, they argued, have crippled the platform’s ability to gain traction outside major commercial zones. Rather than addressing these issues structurally, LagRide management is allegedly shifting blame onto captains who are already grappling with asset repayments and daily operational costs.
In addition, the letter highlighted that several promises made during LagRide’s mandatory four-day training have not been honoured. These include key features such as daily remittance visibility, real-time asset repayment tracking, and consistent in-app functionality. The union noted that captains continue to shoulder the financial burden for vehicle maintenance and insurance despite having paid these fees to Ibile Holdings for over two years, yet have reportedly been denied access to coverage following accidents.
More controversially, the union criticised the app’s data collection and surveillance protocols, claiming they resemble provisions found in China’s Cybersecurity Law rather than Nigeria’s legal standards. They contend that these policies, which involve extensive identity tracking, amount to a breach of national sovereignty and conflict with domestic regulations such as the NIMC Act and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
In a call to action, the union demanded a comprehensive overhaul of LagRide’s operations, beginning with restoring app functionality across all regions of Lagos and launching a state-wide public awareness campaign to increase service uptake. They also urged management to fulfil previous commitments to captains, ensure insurance and repayment transparency through the app, and return to the original daily payment structure that was agreed upon during negotiations with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and AUATON. More importantly, the union insisted that LagRide revise its data policy framework to align with Nigerian labor and privacy laws, not foreign cybersecurity regimes.
