Moove says no to Lagos drivers asking for lower daily car payments following Uber’s departure from Nigeria.
Drivers working with the car finance company Moove are facing tough financial conditions in Lagos after the company turned down their request to reduce daily vehicle payments.
Following Uber’s departure from the Nigerian market, drivers asked Moove to lower their daily payment from 18,700 Naira down to 12,000 Naira to help them cope with high fuel prices and a drop in customer bookings.
The request was formally submitted by a group of drivers through a joint letter to management. In the letter, the drivers explained how difficult it has become to keep up with daily targets while paying for fuel and vehicle repairs out of their own pockets.
The drivers wrote, “The current remittance is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain under the present business conditions. We believe that a reduction in remittance will help drivers remain operational and continue meeting their obligations to Moove.”
The situation became more complicated when Uber shut down its operations in Nigeria to focus on other global markets.
Before leaving, Uber was a major financial backer of Moove, and Moove drivers were legally required to work only on the Uber app under the UberGo package.
Without Uber, Moove allowed its drivers to register with other ride hailing platforms like Bolt and inDrive so they could continue earning an income.
Despite opening up access to other apps, drivers state that daily earnings remain too low to cover the required payments to Moove.
Many drivers report that after paying for fuel and app platform fees, they are left with little to no money to feed their families.
The union representing app based transport workers in Nigeria, the Amalgamated Union of App Based Transporters of Nigeria, has also previously raised concerns over high daily rates, noting that working long hours under intense financial pressure creates unsafe working conditions for drivers across the city.
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In addition to requesting lower daily rates, the drivers asked Moove to convert their cars to run on Compressed Natural Gas, which is cheaper than standard petrol, to help bring down daily operating costs.
They also asked the company to release vehicles to drivers who have completed their four-year agreement periods and to provide clear updates on remaining loan balances.
Moove has maintained its position, stating that operational costs, inflation, and vehicle maintenance costs make it impossible to lower the daily payment amounts at this time.
With Moove sticking to its current rate structure, drivers in Lagos continue to navigate high daily costs and uncertain earnings across alternative ride hailing apps.
