Faced with rising costs and shrinking earnings, Nigerian ride-hailing drivers are taking matters into their own hands. A decade after global platforms like Uber and Bolt transformed urban transport, a group of drivers has introduced SimpliRide. This is a homegrown alternative aimed at offering better financial terms.
Ride-hailing was once a lucrative venture, with drivers making up to ₦300,000 ($1,840 at the time) weekly. However, inflation and soaring fuel costs have eroded those earnings. One driver reported spending ₦180,000 ($120) weekly on fuel alone, making it difficult to turn a profit. Frequent fare adjustments by ride-hailing companies have only added to driver frustrations, often resulting in protests and strikes.
SimpliRide seeks to change that by operating on a subscription-based model, charging drivers a fixed ₦500 ($0.33) per day instead of the commission-based fees that can reach ₦15,000 ($10.03) monthly on other platforms. The App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), a drivers’ union, has publicly supported SimpliRide but denies having direct involvement in its creation. Industry insiders, however, claim AUATON holds a 40% stake in the venture, raising questions about its true role.
Despite the excitement around the new platform, some industry figures remain skeptical. AUATON’s General Secretary, Ibrahim Ayoade, questioned whether drivers have the financial and technical resources to sustain such an ambitious project. “I struggle with the idea that drivers developed this app themselves. The bigger question is: even if they did, how viable is it? AUATON, as a regulatory body, is not meant to compete,” Ayoade told Condia.
Beyond ownership concerns, SimpliRide’s biggest challenge will be adoption. Many drivers depend entirely on ride-hailing for their livelihoods and are more concerned about earnings than who owns the platform. However, without a strong user base, even lower fees may not be enough to compete with established platforms that already have millions of customers.
