Drivers operating on LagRide, the Lagos State–backed mobility platform, have voiced concerns over what they describe as onerous financial obligations and insufficient passenger demand on the app. According to several drivers speaking to Technext on the condition of anonymity, the platform requires daily remittances ranging from ₦70,000 to ₦100,000, a figure many say is almost impossible to meet consistently.
“We remit ₦100,000 every day. If we remit less than ₦40,000, the vehicle is seized, and a ₦100,000 penalty must be paid before it is returned. Sometimes it’s difficult to even make ₦50,000 on the app in a day due to low patronage. We often work from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and sleep in our cars to meet these targets,” one driver revealed.
Drivers also expressed frustration over the discrepancy between actual earnings and the figures promised during onboarding. LagRide had assured drivers of monthly earnings between ₦250,000 and ₦400,000, a claim that many now describe as unrealistic. In practice, drivers retain only 10% of total daily remittances, leaving them struggling to meet basic expenses.
Some captains further criticized LagRide Chairperson Chief Diana Chen, alleging insensitivity to their financial struggles. Drivers claimed Chen, who reportedly issues directives remotely from China, sometimes insists that drivers should be grateful for receiving brand-new cars while expecting strict adherence to high remittance targets.
Responding to the allegations, LagRide’s Director of Public Relations, Ifeanyi Abraham, dismissed the reported remittance figures as inaccurate but did not provide specific corrections. Abraham emphasized that LagRide is not a conventional ride-hailing service; the company covers major operational costs, including fuel, electricity for EVs, vehicle maintenance, insurance, and security support. These provisions, he said, mean that drivers’ earnings represent net income, unlike traditional ride-hailing platforms where drivers bear these costs themselves.
Abraham also noted that reported discrepancies in earnings are often due to drivers’ conduct, such as rejecting trips, performing unauthorized offline trips, or canceling rides. According to him, captains who adhere to the platform’s rules and operate transparently generally meet or exceed expected earnings.
On the issue of vehicle retrieval, Abraham clarified that vehicles are only reclaimed if drivers violate contractual agreements, such as using the car on other platforms, performing offline trips, or failing safety and tracking protocols—not simply for failing to meet daily remittance targets.
LagRide recently expanded its fleet with electric vehicles under a bank-assisted driver leasing scheme and aims to recruit 10,000 drivers as it continues to grow its platform across Lagos.
