NLC insecurity protest: e-Hailing drivers in Lagos and PH to shutdown Uber, Bolt, inDrive on Dec 17

e-Hailing drivers in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Benin City, under the aegis of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), have threatened to shut down e-hailing apps on December 17. This was disclosed to Technext by the state chairmen of the union.

According to the chairmen, the action is in solidarity with a protest against the growing insecurity across the country to be embarked by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) which the app-based transporters’ union is affiliated.

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Expressing its full participation in the protest, the Rivers State Chairman of the union, Comrade Amos Omoruyi, noted that app-based transport workers are among the most vulnerable groups affected by insecurity, as they operate daily on highways, inner-city roads, and remote routes where incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery, assault, and extortion have become increasingly common.

“As transport workers, our members are exposed to serious risks while carrying out legitimate economic activities,” he said.

The Rivers State Chairman further assured the public that their participation in the protest will be peaceful, lawful, and well-coordinated, in collaboration with other labour unions and civil society groups in Rivers State.

“The safety of Nigerian workers is non-negotiable. A secure environment is fundamental to decent work, economic growth, and sustainable national development. AUATON stands in solidarity with the NLC and the Nigerian people in this collective call for a safer country,” the statement concluded.

NLC insecurity protest

The NLC National Executive Council had directed all of its state council chairpersons and affiliates to fully mobilise for the nationwide protest against the prevailing insecurity across the country.

Recall that the President of the United States, Donald Trump, designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). This was following claims of a Christian genocide going on in the country. However, despite increased security activities, including the appointment of a new Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa, the insecurity has continued unabated across the country.

On November 21, 303 students and 12 teachers of St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, were kidnapped by armed invaders. Before then, 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi state had been abducted by unknown assailants. While they have since been rescued and returned to their parents, only 100 of the Niger State school children have been released.

This is aside from the numerous scattered cases of attacks on farming communities across the Middle Belt, which have left tens of thousands killed, maimed, houses and places of worship razed, and millions now living in camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP). There are also rampant kidnappings and armed robberies in the south of the country, as well as organ harvesting operations of criminal organisations.

In light of these developments, the NLC has decided to lend its voice to the insecurity and unending killings through this protest scheduled to take place on December 17. In pursuance of this, the state executives are to ensure the mobilisation of all affiliate workers, unions, and members of the general public within their states.

NLC demonstration

Indeed, the Rivers State Council of the NLC, in a correspondence signed by the Chairperson, Comrade Alex Agwanwor and the Secretary, Comrade Elvis Oraka, has issued a directive to all affiliated unions to mobilise their members to the state secretariat for the protest scheduled to begin at 7 am.

The situation is no different from Lagos, where the union has worked closely with the state NLC in its fight for improved welfare and greater benefits for e-hailing drivers. And responding to a question on whether they would be present for the protest, the state chairman of AUATON, Comrade Jaiyesimi Azeez, was brief and categorical.

“Of course. We are affiliated with NLC so we will be there,” he said.

It remains to be seen how the nationwide protest against insecurity turns out.