The Lagos State Government has ordered all licensed e-hailing operators, including Uber, Bolt, Lagride, and InDrive, to ensure their drivers submit their vehicles for a mandatory roadworthiness audit to enhance safety, service quality, and regulatory compliance.
The directive was announced by the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, following a stakeholder meeting with e-hailing operators at the Ministry of Transportation in Alausa, Ikeja, on Sunday, August 10, 2025.
Osiyemi highlighted concerns over the poor condition of some vehicles operating under these platforms, noting that many are in disrepair, posing safety risks to passengers and drivers.
“The deplorable state of some e-hailing vehicles necessitates this comprehensive audit. Any vehicle found unfit will be barred from operating on Lagos roads,” he stated via his official X account.
The commissioner also pointed to issues like inadequate data management systems and poor service delivery, which hinder tracking and increase security risks.
The audit requires all vehicles to be registered with the Lagos State Government and drivers to be certified by the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI).
Osiyemi urged residents to book rides only through official apps to ensure traceability and access to in-app safety features. Operators failing to comply face sanctions, including potential suspension of their licenses.
Representatives from Uber, Bolt, Lagride, InDrive, Laurie, Vas Acquico, Folti Tech, and EDryv attended the meeting, sharing plans for enhanced driver verification, mandatory license checks, panic buttons, and stricter onboarding processes.
The move follows growing public complaints about deteriorating vehicle quality, with many e-hailing cars showing signs of wear, such as torn seats and faulty air-conditioning, amid economic pressures like naira devaluation and rising fuel costs.
This directive aligns with broader efforts to address unrest in the e-hailing sector, as the Lagos State House of Assembly recently summoned these operators to a public hearing over allegations of exploitative practices, including unfair pricing and inadequate driver welfare.
The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has also threatened to switch to local apps if demands for better conditions are unmet.
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