Police Arrest Protesting Uber, Bolt Drivers in Lagos

The police in Lagos have arrested some members of the Professional E-hailing Drivers and Private Owners Association (PEDPA), the umbrella body of e-hailing ride companies including Uber and Bolt, who had embarked on an industrial action over the services rendered by the platforms.

Five drivers, including the president of PEDPA, Idris Shonuga, were arrested on Tuesday.

Speaking on the arrest, Kolawole Aina, the Regional Vice President PEDPA, South-west, said the drivers were picked up by the police at the National Stadium in Surulere while they were gathering for a peaceful march to Alausa.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Bolt and Uber drivers commenced strike on Monday to express their displeasure over the “unfavourable pricing” of the companies and its impact on their business.

Mr Shonuga, who listed the five-point demands of the drivers, had said the action would last for five days with a peaceful walk to the governor’s office slated to hold on Tuesday.

Although Bolt and Uber reacted to the strike by the drivers saying their pricing template is favourable and they are open to feedback from drivers, the drivers said they needed to press their demands further.

“We need to press home our demands, we need the government to intervene in the matter. The prices of the e-hailing companies are not favourable, they are killing our drivers,” Mr Shonuga said in a telephone interview on Monday.