Fuel Hike: Bolt, Uba Drivers Protest in Abuja

Bolt and Uba drivers Wednesday took to the streets of Abuja to protest against the refusal of both companies to increase transportation fare on their apps in accordance with the recent fuel hike.

TheHintsNews recalls that President Bola Tinubu had during his inauguration on May 29 declared an end to the payment of subsidy by the federal government.

It was based on this that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) vowed to embark on strike if the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) failed to revert the current template on the increase in the price of fuel occasioned by the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

But, the Labour union on Wednesday decided to shelve the planned strike after a series of meetings between the government and key labour stakeholders.

However, Bolt and Uba drivers have vowed to continue to protest until both companies agree to their terms.

The drivers insisted that it was either they increase the transportation fare on their apps or they reduce their percentage to 10 per cent from 22 per cent.

One of the drivers, Mr. Raymond Ifedube told TheHintsNews that their members are protesting at various designated places in Abuja.

His words: “We converge in different locations in Abuja, but right now we are in Ademola Adetokunbo, Wuse 2, by Jevnik junction.

“There have been fuel increments and Bolt and Uba refused to increase their price to cushion the effect. We have about 270 per cent fuel increment and they only increase transport fare by 50 per cent. It makes no sense.

“We are telling them it is either they increase their fare or they reduce their percentage to at least 10 per cent, so that everybody will have a win-win situation.

“Before this protest, we have already written to them. We wrote to all the apps companies in Nigeria. Though some indigenous companies have responded and they are doing what we asked them to do. But Uba and Bolt, which are the major apps in Nigeria have refused to do anything. All they do was to increase their fare by 50 per cent, which doesn’t make any sense.

“We just started protesting today (Wednesday). If they refuse we have other line of action to take. For now we don’t know when the protest will end, the protest will continue till they agree to our terms,” he added.