E-hailing drivers have called on government to support them with grants to explore alternative means of fueling, which is Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), to power their vehicles.
The drivers, under the aegis of Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON), said they could not afford the cost of conversion, urging government to support in that direction, among other measures, before the situation becomes unbearable.
In a statement signed by Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee, Jossy Olawale, the union also urged the government to revisit the removal of subsidy considering the multiplier effect on the economy and deteriorating living standard of poor Nigerians.
Olawale said union members across Nigeria are unemployed graduates, who could not find jobs and unwilling to engage in fraud and other illegitimate means but chose to work as e-hailing drivers to survive.
He said the situation is now a state of hopelessness for members whose daily operational cost is largely dependent on petrol and in less than two months this cost has gone up by over 350 to 400 per cent respectively, depending on the part of Nigeria. As at today fuel is now sold between 570 to 715 naira per a litre in this country.
According to him, app-based transport workers in Nigeria are facing the worst hardship of their lives as a result of fuel subsidy removal and lack of ability to adjust transport prices anytime there is an increase in price of fuel.
He said the app companies, uber, bolt, Lagride, in-driver and others fix the price and their commission leaving the drivers to their losses, the situation of drivers today is that drivers are the one subsidising the transport fare for riders in Nigeria.
He reassured members across Nigeria that all hope is not lost even as the union looks for a better alternative way and means of carrying out business profitably.
