Nigeria: Uber partners strike due to low fares, safety

Uber partners in Abuja, Nigeria have embarked on a strike action leaving many riders stranded. According to Premium Times drivers downed tools on Monday 31 October. Some of the concerns raised include increased rates, safety and identification verification.

A partner of Uber Nigeria revealed that some drivers had been robbed by riders and rides were improperly documented which sometimes results in drivers not getting paid. Uber management had a meeting with the Nigerian Forum in June, and although an agreement to meet every month was put in place some drivers say that nothing concrete has come out of the engagements.

According to reports, concerns include:

• Rider identity verification through valid and matching credit/debit cards, due to security concerns.
• Detailed explanation of completion rate calculation, and the inclusion of completion rates in app/dashboard.
• Increased rider education through the app.
• Requirements for destinations to be entered by riders before they can make requests, so the rider is clear on fare estimate before the trip.
• Penalties for long waits after driver arrival at the pickup location.
• Increase in per minute rates to N30/min.
• Base fare increase to N300 (from N220).
• Airport fare increase to N4000 (from N3000) and the inclusion of N400 toll.
• Removal of peak hour conditions for high flier incentives.
• Rounding up of fares to the nearest N50.
• 24-hour limit to rider rating the driver.
• Clearer procedures for reporting and resolving issues.

Some partners took to Twitter on Monday to express their grievances using the hash tag #UberAbujaStrike.

Our drivers are getting robbed. Fares make no economic sense. You send @UberNigeria mails, and it bounces. Zero service. #UberAbujaStrike

— Toasty Tos (@IjebuPrincesss) October 31, 2016

@UberNigeria treat their drivers and partners like they don’t matter. #uberabujastrike

— Henry M. Oyedeji (@IamHMO) October 31, 2016

We started this business to be partners with Uber. Now it feels like slavery. They need to know we have a hold on them too. #UberAbujaStrike

— . (@iamVIDI) October 30, 2016

So @UberNigeria is deactivating partners for making issues known? Asked for a meeting in September. B4 coming online in Oct.#UberAbujaStrike

— Toasty Tos (@IjebuPrincesss) October 31, 2016

The strike comes shortly after Uber Nigeria released a statement about their partnership with First Bank Nigeria to make low-interest, used vehicle loans available to top-rated driver-partners. The partnership offers Uber driver-partners the opportunity to apply for vehicle finance based on their performance and records.

Staff Writer