Driver Grievances Over Daily Remittance Requirements
Drivers operating on the Lagos government-backed mobility platform Lagride, referred to as 'captains', have voiced significant complaints regarding alleged acts of injustice perpetrated by the app operators. A primary concern is the daily remittance requirement, which drivers claim ranges from N70,000 to N100,000.
One captain, speaking anonymously due to ongoing employment with the company, detailed how this demanding situation compels them to work a minimum of 17 hours daily and often sleep in their vehicles.
"We remit 100,000 naira every day. If you give them less than 40,000 naira, they will seize the vehicle, and you must pay a 100,000 naira penalty before they will give it back. Personally, I have paid it once. So we struggle to make 80,000 to 100,000 naira every day. It is even hard to make N50,000 on their app in a day because of low patronage. Sometimes you can stay in particular places for like 3 hours without any request. Some of us sleep in our cars at their park in VI. We have to work from 5 am to 10 pm to meet up," the driver stated.
When questioned about their monthly earnings after such substantial daily remittances to LagRide, the drivers indicated that the company had initially assured them of monthly incomes between N250,000 and N400,000.
However, the drivers claim they struggle to achieve earnings anywhere near these figures. They allege that these assurances were primarily used as a lure to recruit drivers into the scheme, and that the company permits them to retain only 10 per cent of their total remittances.
"The salary of N400,000 per month is a lie. That is what they use to deceive us into taking the job. We paid 50,000 naira to get this job. And they promised to give us 250,000 to 400,000 every month. Since I joined, there has been no basic salary. We only get 10 per cent of what we make at the end of the month," another driver commented.
Allegations Against LagRide Leadership
The captains have also directed accusations at the Chairman of LagRide, Chief Diana Chen, alleging insensitivity and a focus on profiteering.
"She used to tell us: ‘Can your government give you a brand new car? Can your family give you a brand new car? I give you a brand new car, you give me 100,000 naira.’ She is always in China sending instructions. She could wake up today and say anybody who makes less than 60,000 should drop their key," one driver claimed.
LagRide's Response to Driver Claims
In response to these allegations, LagRide, through its Director of Public Relations, Ifeanyi Abraham, stated that the circulated remittance figures are inaccurate, although a precise figure was not provided.
Abraham clarified that LagRide is not a conventional ride-hailing service. He highlighted that the company shoulders significant operational costs, including fuel for combustion vehicles, electricity for electric vehicles, all maintenance and repairs, insurance, and customer service infrastructure. The company also maintains a relationship with security officials to protect drivers.
Consequently, he explained that because the company covers all major operational expenses that drivers typically bear alone in a standard ride-hailing model, the captains' earnings represent their net income after these costs are deducted.
Abraham further asserted that the operational structure is transparent and was clearly communicated to drivers during their onboarding process. He added that while captains benefit from consistent passenger demand, earning discrepancies are largely attributable to their individual conduct.
“Many earning discrepancies arise from conduct, not system design. Some captains cancel rides, reject trips based on destination, or perform unauthorised cash trips. These actions reduce their recorded rides and distort the perception of earnings. Captains who operate transparently within the system consistently meet or exceed their targets,” Abraham stated.
Mr Abraham also refuted the claims that vehicles are repossessed by LagRide solely because a captain remits less than N40,000 on a given day.
He elaborated that vehicle retrieval is initiated only when a captain breaches their contractual agreements. Such violations include operating the vehicle on other platforms, conducting unauthorized offline trips, or disregarding safety and tracking protocols.