Drivers of ride-hailing companies such as Bolt, Uber, and inDrive are increasingly asking riders to pay more than official prices to mitigate against high petrol costs and a cost-of-living crisis in Nigeria.
These drivers, including Olabode Olukunmi, a 45-year-old driver, said recent increases by these companies have not been able to offset rising costs. Petrol prices have surged by 66.13 per cent to ₦1,025 per litre since September 2024.
According to BusinessDay, Bolt and Uber have had to review prices upward to adjust to this reality. “We understand that your operational cost may have increased due to the current macroeconomic situation and want to help ensure your earnings are protected. With this in mind, we have reflected a 13 percent increase in the UberX product,” Uber said in September.
However, these drivers argue that the price review does not reflect reality.
“Whenever I buy fuel of N10,000, I make only N12,500. I have to feed myself and my family and consider car repairs, among others. In fact, most of us do not work during the day. We work at night because we know that people do not have a choice but to pay at that time,” said Olukunmi.
This means higher costs for riders, who sometimes have no option but to pay the extra amount demanded by the drivers. Ben Osagie, an event host visiting Ibadan, said,
“I had an event in Ibadan, so I ordered a ride from my hotel. The Uber app showed N3,500 to my destination, but the driver insisted on collecting N6,000. I asked him why, and he kept asking if I was going or not. I told him I wasn’t going at that price, and he hung up.”
Osagie eventually got another ride but had to pay ₦1,000 more. Kemi Adebode, also in Ibadan, told BusinessDay that she once had to pay ₦4,000 for a trip that was officially meant to be ₦2,000. According to her, ride-hailing is now a last resort for her commute.
