The Lagos State Council of the [Amalgamated Union of App‑based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ride-hailing) announced on Thursday that its four‑day drivers’ strike in Lagos has been lifted, permitting e‑hailing operators to resume normal service after the union deemed the action successful following an internal assessment.
In a statement addressed to Technext and signed by State Chairman Comrade Jaiyesimi Azeez, the union declared that the shutdown was a triumph and that ending the strike was necessary after reviewing the prevailing conditions. “Following our assessment of the situation, I hereby announce that the ongoing industrial action and shutdown are officially called off, effective immediately. Drivers may resume their normal activities, while remaining attentive to further official union communications,” the statement read.
Lagos NLC Chairperson Comrade Funmi Sessi, accompanied by AUATON executives, praised the e‑hailing drivers for their perseverance throughout the four‑day protest, highlighting their sacrifice, solidarity, courage and commitment as proof of the power of collective action.
**AUATON asks members to discard inDrive**
The union expressed deep disappointment with [inDrive](https://indrive.com/), one of the country’s major ride‑hailing platforms, accusing it of indifference during the strike. According to the statement, the company failed to reach out for dialogue, a silence that the union interpreted as a lack of respect for the drivers who power its business.
“Despite our collective action and the concerns raised by drivers, inDrive has not reached out to AUATON for meaningful engagement. This lack of engagement has deeply disappointed the union and raises serious concerns about the company’s willingness to listen to the people who make its business possible. As we move forward, AUATON is encouraging all drivers to reconsider their use of inDrive and uninstall the inDrive app on their phones,” the union warned.
Instead, AUATON urged drivers to download locally endorsed applications such as MyKab, Randbax and SimpliRide, arguing that these alternatives could provide Nigerians with credible options while allowing home‑grown platforms to demonstrate a more sustainable driver experience.
Ahead of the strike, which began on Monday, 12 October, the other leading e‑hailing service, [Bolt](https://bolt.eu/), announced its readiness to engage with the drivers’ union to avert industrial action in Nigeria’s largest operating city.
Bolt’s Head of Regulatory and Policy in Africa, Weyinmi Aghadiuno, said the company had taken note of AUATON’s concerns over driver earnings, operating costs, platform charges, transparency and welfare. He added, “In this spirit, Bolt is committed to engaging AUATON and driver representatives in a roundtable discussion early next week to listen to their concerns, exchange perspectives and explore practical areas for further collaboration. We approach this engagement in good faith, with a shared interest in a safe, reliable and economically sustainable ride‑hailing ecosystem.”
Reports indicate that the roundtable is slated for Thursday.
InDrive, for its part, said it was monitoring the ongoing debate about ride‑hailing fares, driver welfare and commission fees, and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting drivers through low service fees, improved earning opportunities, welfare partnerships and sustained engagement with the driver community. Country Director Timothy Oladimeji stressed that the firm still offers the lowest commission in the industry, adding, “We still charge the lowest commission fee in the industry. The decision to offer a reduced commission is intended to cushion the impact of the current economic situation on drivers and enable them to retain a greater share of their earnings.”