Rivers Union Demands Bolt Reinstates Driver Accused of Assault Amid Growing Discontent Over Pricing

The Rivers State Chairman of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), Comrade Omoruyi Amos, has called on ride-hailing platform Bolt to immediately reinstate Wugah Kue Prince, a driver suspended for allegedly assaulting a passenger during a trip in Port Harcourt.

The incident, which occurred on Sunday, June 1, involved a dispute over fare pricing. According to reports, Prince allegedly demanded ₦4,500 for a ride originally priced at ₦3,100 on the Bolt app. When the passenger, Miss Kosisochukwu Okoye, refused to pay the inflated fare, a confrontation ensued. She reportedly sustained injuries while trying to exit the vehicle, with claims that the driver drove off mid-scuffle, dragging her in the process.

🚨 Bolt Reacts: Driver Suspended

Responding to the incident, Osi Oguah, Bolt Nigeria’s General Manager, confirmed the suspension of the driver, citing a breach of community guidelines.

“We are aware of the recent incident involving a Bolt driver who allegedly assaulted a rider after demanding payment outside the app. This behaviour is completely unacceptable… The driver has been suspended from the platform,” said Oguah in a statement to Technext.

Bolt also disclosed that support had been extended to the affected passenger and reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy on drivers soliciting off-app payments.

⚖️ Union Defends Driver, Blames Pricing System

While condemning the assault and sympathizing with the passenger, AUATON’s Rivers State Chairman, Comrade Omoruyi Amos, shifted focus to Bolt’s pricing model, which he described as exploitative and unsustainable.

“We must draw public and institutional attention to the root causes of this recurring friction between Bolt drivers and passengers,” Amos said. “The unfair pricing model and lack of support from Bolt Nigeria are at the heart of this.”

According to Amos, fuel prices in Nigeria now range between ₦950–₦1,000 per litre, while vehicle maintenance costs and inflation continue to rise. Despite this, app fares have remained static or dropped, making it difficult for drivers to operate profitably.

He stated that drivers are often forced to accept unrealistic trip fares, like the ₦3,100 quoted for what was reportedly a multi-kilometre ride in this incident.

“An enslaved driver is an angry man,” Amos said. “Bolt’s failure to adjust pricing is creating frustration that could easily be avoided. We demand the immediate reinstatement of Comrade Prince’s account, pending the conclusion of a fair and transparent investigation.”

🥵 “Offline” Trips Becoming the Norm in Southern Cities

Beyond Port Harcourt, drivers in Calabar, Uyo, and other Southern Nigerian cities have reportedly made it a common practice to disable air-conditioning and negotiate fares “offline,” meaning outside the Bolt app.

Several passengers, including Ola Dami, shared experiences of being asked to pay double the app fare without any accompanying amenities.

“Do you know that in Calabar, even after negotiating an offline price that’s nearly double, they still won’t turn on the AC?” Dami told Technext. “In Lagos, drivers plead to turn it off. In Calabar, they refuse to turn it on, regardless.”

🛑 Bolt’s Stance on Off-App Negotiations

Earlier this year, Bolt introduced an “offline trip cancellation” feature, allowing riders to cancel bookings if a driver requests off-app payments. At the time, the company warned drivers that engaging in such behavior could lead to account suspension.

However, despite these measures, the practice appears to be widespread and growing, suggesting that many drivers see it as the only way to cope with unsustainable app rates.

📉 Rising Tensions in the Gig Economy

This incident adds to the growing chorus of complaints from app-based transport workers across Nigeria, many of whom feel the platforms are not adapting to current economic realities.

Amos and the AUATON union have repeatedly urged Bolt and other ride-hailing companies to review pricing models, provide operational support, and create a transparent disciplinary process for drivers accused of misconduct.

“We are not excusing violence,” Amos reiterated. “But we must also be honest about the pressure cooker environment in which many of these drivers are operating.”

🚦What’s Next?

Bolt has yet to respond to the union’s demand for Prince’s reinstatement, but the incident has reignited debate over the sustainability and ethics of Nigeria’s ride-hailing ecosystem.

As fuel prices continue to soar and inflation squeezes both drivers and passengers, stakeholders across the board—tech platforms, government regulators, unions, and users—will need to find common ground to prevent further breakdowns in service and trust.

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