AGS NEWS – Uber, the popular e-hailing company operating in Nigeria, is at risk of facing a driver boycott as it seeks a three-month extension to comply with a data-sharing agreement signed with the Lagos State Government in 2001.

Reliable sources familiar with the matter disclosed that Uber made the request for an extension during a closed-door meeting with the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, and the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria in Lagos on Monday.

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According to sources, Uber’s request for a three-month extension raised questions, as other platforms had already complied with the agreement without needing such an extended timeframe.

The agreement between e-hailing operators and the state government involves API integration for driver and passenger verification, background checks, and licensing compliance.

While other e-hailing platforms in the state have complied with the agreement, Uber remains an exception.

Former Lagos Transport Commissioner, Frederic Oladeinde, clarified during a review of ride-hailing regulations in 2020 that the government was only requesting trip movement data from e-hailing companies to calculate the appropriate charges and levies.

Bolt, another major e-hailing operator, confirmed compliance with the state’s regulation on data sharing. However, Uber has yet to fully comply.

Responding to inquiries, Uber’s Country Manager for Nigeria, Tope Akinwumi, reiterated the company’s commitment to honoring the terms of the data-sharing agreement with the Lagos State Government.

Akinwumi stated that Uber has been sharing aggregated trip data daily via a secure folder solution as per the signed agreement.

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Last week, the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation began impounding vehicles belonging to e-hailing drivers operating on the Uber app, prompting app-based transporters to consider boycotting Uber until it complies with data-sharing regulations.

Chairman of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria in Lagos, Jayesimi Azeez, emphasized the need for Uber’s compliance for safety reasons. He expressed disappointment with Uber’s failure to meet established standards despite repeated calls for transparency and adherence to local laws.

In response, the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, confirmed Uber’s non-compliance and urged the company to integrate API as it would enhance overall safety and trustworthiness of e-hailing platforms.