inDrive’s Commitment to Driver Welfare, Safety Highlighted at Lagos Roundtable

inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to prioritising safety and fair earnings for its drivers in Nigeria. The company, known for its unique ‘name your price’ business model, shared this commitment during a roundtable discussion held  in Ikeja, Lagos, on January 18, 2024. 

The event brought together top-performing drivers, experts from the industry, and key government figures, including representatives from the Public Transport and Commuter Service and the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria.

This pivotal event marked an important milestone in inDrive’s commitment to enhancing the ride-hailing experience for both its drivers and passengers. It offered a valuable platform for stakeholders to delve into and find solutions for the issues facing Nigeria’s transportation and e-hailing industries.

In his remarks at the roundtable discussion, Business Development Representative at inDrive Nigeria, Timothy Oladimeji, stated that the e-hailing service is very much aware of the challenges confronting users and drivers, and will continue to do more to provide better services. Oladimeji explained that the company has invested heavily in technology and collaboration with law enforcement agencies to guarantee the safety of drivers as well as passengers. He also stated that the pricing mechanism is informed by different economic indicators that reflect the realities of both passengers and drivers

Speaking during the session, Chief Executive Officer, Primero Transportation Limited, Fola Tinubu acknowledged that the ride-hailing industry has contributed a lot in revolutionizing transportation not only in Nigeria but globally.

Tinubu stated that there is a need for ride-hailing platforms such as inDrive to devise further means of ensuring the safety of its drivers or passengers. While admitting that the safety services in Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) scheme were different from those of the e-hailing platform, he urged e-hailing platforms such as inDrive to take their cue from the BRT system by deploying monitoring and emergency communication practices using appropriate technology.

Another speaker, Chairman of the Amalgamated Union of Application-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), Lagos Chapter, Comrade Jaiyesimi Azeez, stated that while inDrive needs to continue setting the example in their pricing and commission structures, there is still room for drivers to earn better. This would benefit both drivers and passengers amid the difficult economic conditions. Azeez disclosed that plans are underway to engage with all the e-hailing platforms to ensure a win-win situation for all stakeholders.

Engr. Adebayo Olusoji, Director of Public Transport and Commuter Services at the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, commended e-hailing platforms for their transformative role in Nigerian transport. He encouraged inDrive to act on driver and user feedback to improve their services.

While acknowledging the challenges faced by drivers on the e-hailing platform, Engr. Adebayo stated the Ministry of Transportation’s commitment to ensuring the safety, security, sanity and standard of transport operations in Lagos State. He further stressed the need for drivers on the InDrive Platform to get accredited at the PTCS, have their vehicles inspected by the VIS, and get re-certified by LASDRI, in line with the government’s safety requirements for public transport operators.

At an event with the drivers and various affiliated unions in attendance, 5 top-performing drivers on the platform were recognized and rewarded with an iPhone each. According to Oladimeji, this gesture is in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the platform’s success.