Bolt vows to permantly remove Port Harcourt drivers who hike fares by 50%

Ride-hailing company Bolt has vowed to permanently remove drivers who hiked their fares over the quoted app prices in Port Harcourt, a major city in Southern Nigeria.

This was according to a statement sent to Technext, in response to a report that drivers in the Rivers State capital have resolved to hike their fares by 50 per cent due to concerns about pricing on the Bolt app.

Responding to the drivers, the company says additional fares to the quoted price on the app are unauthorised and run contrary to its operating policies. As such, any driver found to be indulging in such acts would be

“Any driver found to be charging riders outside the app or demanding extra payments beyond the agreed in-app fare will face immediate and permanent removal from the Bolt platform,” the company’s statement warns.

The statement added that the app now has a bidding feature, which allows drivers to negotiate and bid for improved fares. Hence, there was no need for drivers to negotiate off the app.

“We would like to state unequivocally that this action is unauthorised and goes against Bolt’s operating policies. The Bolt platform already provides drivers with flexibility through the Price Bidding feature, which allows them to propose their own fares for each trip based on what riders are willing to pay. This ensures fair and transparent pricing for both drivers and riders without the need for any external fare adjustment or surcharge,” the company said.

The statement added the app’s commitment to providing affordable, transparent, and safe mobility for all Nigerians. As such, it was encouraging all drivers and riders to continue using the app in accordance with its guidelines to maintain trust and fairness across the platform.

Bolt drivers in PH’s resolve to increase fare prices to reflect current realities

Technext reported that e-Hailing drivers in Rivers state, under the aegis of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), have resolved to demand a 50 per cent price increase on every trip accepted on the Bolt app.

This was disclosed in a statement by the state task force chairman of the union, Comrade Dennis. According to him, the resolution became imperative after Bolt, the leading ride-hailing app in the state, reduced fares while increasing its commission.

He added that the only time drivers would not increase their fares is if there is a huge surge, which usually translates to improved fares.

“All E-hailing drivers in Port Harcourt have collectively agreed to add 50% to all ride fares, except when there is a 1.5x surge and above on the app. Drivers bear the full cost of operations, including the car, data, call card, fuel, maintenance, and the numerous risks involved in every trip, without any contribution or support from Bolt apart from connecting drivers to riders. We therefore appeal to all riders (passengers) to kindly cooperate and support this resolution, as it is aimed at ensuring fair compensation and sustainability for drivers,” Comrade Dennis said.

The resolution by drivers in Rivers is the latest in a recurring squabble over who should set the fares for a trip. While the app companies insist it is their prerogative, the drivers argue that the companies are merely aggregators for drivers and passengers.

So, if they merely act as a marketplace for seekers and providers of service to meet, why should they have the power to set prices? This is coupled with the fact that drivers independently provide all the resources. required to complete each trip.

And, this conflict is widespread.

Recall that last year, e-hailing drivers in Abuja released a document detailing their own new price per kilometre, pegging it at 450 naira. This year, Technext reported how e-hailing drivers in Abeokuta are raising fares by as much as 200 per cent.

One of the drivers explained that Uber and Bolt’s pricing model for the city does not allow the drivers to make sufficient revenue to cover their operational costs. 

“I barely make N20,000 on an average day. And, I am expected to fuel the car, maintain it and take care of myself from that. This month alone, I spent over N80,000 on replacing shock absorbers alone”, he explained.

Recently, the chairman of the Rivers state AUATON, Amos Omoruyi, declared that Bolt drivers charging extra fares from passengers should not be described as fraudulent. According to him, the claims are not only false but are designed to malign drivers and bring them into disrepute.

See also: Bolt drivers charging extra fares from passengers not fraudulent – AUATON