E-hailing regulations in Lagos: Stakeholders call for comprehensive review

Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial hub, implemented emailing laws in 2020, becoming the first state in the country to do so. However, recent discussions have shown that these rules may not adequately address the concerns of all stakeholders, in particular taxi drivers.

Comrade Ayoade Ibrahim, Founder and Secretary General of the Amalgamated Association of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), confirmed the existence of these provisions. He noted that although he was involved in the initial process, the lack of a unified drivers’ union at the time resulted in lost opportunities for drivers. The regulations primarily benefited the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR), without providing significant benefits to drivers.

Stephen Iwindoye, spokesperson of AUATON Lagos branch, confirmed the existing regulations but stressed that they do not address the key issues faced by drivers. These include security concerns, algorithmic decision-making by app providers, arbitrary activation and deactivation of drivers, high commissions, low fares, and misclassification of drivers as independent contractors rather than employees.

The 2020 regulations were introduced after email drivers clashed with the Lagos State Ministry of Transport. The document covered various aspects including licensing of email companies, driver registration, vehicle standards and driver qualifications. However, rules on benefits for drivers were lacking and placed certain burdens on them, such as the requirement for vehicles to be no more than three years old and mandatory annual inspections at the drivers’ expense.

Comrade Ayoade criticized the practicality of these regulations, especially the requirements for new vehicles, citing economic challenges, poor road conditions, low demand and unfavorable pricing mechanisms imposed by app manufacturers. He also pointed to inconsistent enforcement by the government, which appears to prioritize revenue generation over the well-being of drivers.

The state’s focus on accessing Uber’s database to collect road maintenance fees further highlights this revenue-driven approach. The recent arrests of Uber and Indrive drivers for failing to comply with API regulations have been seen as another example of the government prioritizing revenue over driver protection.

In light of these issues, stakeholders are calling for a comprehensive review of emailing regulations for 2020 to reflect the current reality and benefit all parties involved. The key areas of focus for such a review include reducing the commission charged by taxi companies, establishing an agreed pricing mechanism, implementing driver health insurance regulations and developing a comprehensive safety mechanism.

The call for a review highlights the need for regulation that balances the interests of the state, email companies and drivers. As the emailing industry continues to evolve, the regulatory framework must adapt to ensure fair treatment and sustainable operation for all stakeholders involved. This review process provides an opportunity to address loopholes in current regulations and create a fairer environment for the email ecosystem in Lagos.

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