How Uber, Bolt Abandon Nigerian Drivers, Tie Financial Aid To Coronavirus Infection

 

Before Coronavirus outbreak in Nigeria, Olayinka Rafiu, an Uber driver, used to earn between N15,000 to N20,000 daily, but since the end of February when Nigeria recorded its first COVID-19 case, Rafiu has been struggling to make a living. And Uber, Bolt and other car-hailing firms operating in Nigeria are not willing to throw him and other platform-drivers a lifeline; except they get infected with COVID-19.

The Coronavirus outbreak in Nigeria had started on a small scale, but since mid-March, the confirmed cases have risen to 4787 (as at press time) within the country. So the car-hailing market is on a beam scale, as the COVID-19 case increases in Nigeria, the demand for car-hailing services drops, even after the lockdown has been lifted.

From his usual twenty daily trips, Rafiu says he now accounts for one trip after roaming Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub. This is the result of the COVID-19 pandemic which has kept Lagosians indoors and cost many their source of income.

Now, coupled with the restriction on movements and curfew in revenue-driven routes; Lagos and Abuja - both of which have recorded 1990 cases and 360 cases respectively - these drivers have joined millions of self-employed Nigerians whose daily livelihood have dried up due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Revenue dropped on heels of COVID-19

Despite the easing of the lockdown, Nigerians are still not booking personal and business trips, hence, causing a decline in revenue generation of drivers on Uber, Bolt and other car-hailing platforms.

According to Rafiu, his earnings from trips have dropped to about N5,000 from the N15,000 he generates daily pre-Coronavirus pandemic, "It is not worth it" He lamented during a discussion with Allnews.

Seconding Rafiu's plight, John Semion - who only operate night trips - said he has stopped working because there's no money, "In a day pre-COVID-19), I do nothing less than 15-20 trips which my target in a day is like N15,000" But after the announcement of the first Coronavirus case in Nigeria, he was only able to do about six trips. Semion has stopped taking order since mid-March.

Another driver, Daudu Emmanuel, complained of the impact Coronavirus outbreak has on his income, stating that from making about N20,000 per day, he began to make between N5000 to N8000. Just like Semion, Emmanuel parked his car as the market became unprofitable, but he later succumbed to low pay when lack of money began to affect his family.

In order to reduce the negative impact on his household, Emmanuel said he had to start driving again despite the risk of being infected with the virus before the lockdown, but the lockdown sent him back to square one. Since March, Emmanuel is yet to take the wheel.

This is the plight of self-employed individuals in Nigeria who depend on daily earnings to feed their family as Uber and Bolt ignore financial aid for their drivers without COVID-19.

Although, the Nigerian government have since started distributing relief fund of about N20,000 per household, these drivers are not among the beneficiaries, as President Muhammadu Buhari's administration narrows attention to the 2.5 million vulnerable households in 35 States.

Uber and Bolt's aid comes with a clause

Uber and Bolt in an email and statement said they are willing to financially assist, but the fund is only available for any driver diagnosed with COVID-19 while on the job, or asked to self-isolate by a public health authority for 14 days.

Bolt also stated that a signed doctor’s note (from a UK registered doctor) is part of requirements for its drivers to receive payment. But a driver like Ayodeji Ayo is not comfortable with such package. He said Uber and Bolt don't have to wait for their drivers to be infected or be at risk before offering cash support.

"So they are waiting for drivers to get infected before they take measure, they don't want to prevent their driver before they contact the disease. So they want drivers to contact it before they assist. That is not good enough" Ayo told Allnews.

Uber/Bolt abandoned Nigerian drivers

Uber have often argued that drivers utilising its car-hailing apps are not under its employment, the firm seems to be putting that in better context now with its handling of Nigerian drivers amidst the Coronavirus pandemic and the economic fallout of the virus.

The sidelining of Nigerian drivers became obvious when Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi wrote a letter to President Donald Trump - in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak - requesting for assistance on behalf of American drivers, but such effort hasn't been made for Nigerian drivers who control one of its major market in Africa.

Also, while Uber said it is offering drivers free disinfectant supplies, the Nigerian drivers haven't received any, "What they are doing in other countries is not what they are doing to us in Nigeria." Ayo pointed out.

He lamented that, "Imagine me, I've not worked for one month now, what do you think I will be eating? We are even saying that even if it is N10,000 you can disburse to the drivers, if it is N5,000 every week for upkeep. Those (drivers) are the people that are working and you (car-hailing firms) are getting percentage; you don't know how they run their life, their car and security. Even if it is going to be worse, let it be $100 per driver, but nothing of such."

These drivers feel they don't deserve to be left to their fate by the tech companies as Uber, Bolt and other car-hailing apps make their revenue off their sweat. Uber demand for 25 per cent commission on returns and Bolt charges 15 per cent commission.