App-based transport workers in Lagos have announced a 24-hour protest scheduled for May Day, May 1st. The demonstration is being organized by the Lagos chapter of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), and will see drivers from major platforms like Uber, Bolt, Lagride, inDrive, and Rida switching off their apps in a coordinated shutdown.
According to the union’s Public Relations Officer, Steven Iwindoye, the protest is a direct response to a range of grievances that drivers say have been ignored for far too long. These include meager earnings, random and unjust deactivations from platforms, and poor safety measures for drivers. Other concerns include excessive commission charges by app companies, the imposition of facial recognition systems, and what the union describes as “exploitative” and “inhumane” working policies.
“We’ve tried to engage these companies in dialogue,” Iwindoye stated. “But it’s clear they only respond when there’s financial pressure. Our members are tired of being treated like disposable tools instead of respected professionals.”
He noted that the protest is not just a cry for attention but the beginning of a broader movement. AUATON plans to follow up the shutdown with a list of formal demands and a strategic negotiation plan. The union also aims to partner with media platforms, civil society groups, and labor organizations to amplify their voice and push for reforms in the app-based transport industry.
“This isn’t just a local issue,” Iwindoye emphasized. “Drivers around the world are facing similar conditions. What we need is a global show of solidarity. This May Day, we’re not just protesting—we’re making a stand for dignity, fairness, and the right to decent work.”
As the date approaches, all eyes will be on Lagos to see whether the shutdown disrupts ride-hailing services across the city—and whether it finally compels the big tech transport firms to come to the negotiation table.
