When Uber emerged in Lagos in 2014, drivers like Kayode Olaniyan earned as much as ₦300,000 weekly. However a decade later, the industry landscape has drastically changed. Rising fuel costs, high platform commissions, and frequent fare cuts have turned ride-hailing into a survivalist hustle, with drivers juggling multiple apps to optimize earnings.
Uber, Bolt, inDrive, and Rida remain in fierce competition, often slashing fares to attract riders. However, these pricing strategies frequently put drivers at a disadvantage, leaving them to bear the burden of vehicle maintenance and fuel costs.
Speaking with multiple drivers who regularly switch between apps, one platform emerged as the most favorable in terms of earnings.
For Collins and several other drivers, Bolt provides the best balance. Though Bolt charges a 25% commission—similar to Uber—its fares are generally higher. Uber’s base fare is 26% lower than Bolt’s (a gap that accumulates over multiple trips).
Drivers report that Uber recently increased its commission to 30% while simultaneously lowering fares to compete with inDrive, leading to further reductions in take-home pay. “They don’t own the cars, they don’t maintain them, yet they take so much,” Collins lamented.
On the other hand, inDrive and Rida allow riders to negotiate fares, often forcing drivers to accept extremely low prices to stay in business. Despite inDrive’s lower 10% commission, many drivers feel it’s a race to the bottom. “You’ll see someone request a ride for ₦2,000, and when you arrive, they’re squeezing in four people,” said Akhigbe, a gig driver. “If each of them took a bike, the total fare would be much higher. Ride-hailing is a premium service—it shouldn’t be undervalued.”
For drivers like Tunde, a Lagos-based Uber operator, the math is sobering. After completing 16 trips in a day and earning ₦36,000, he spends ₦20,000 on fuel alone. With Uber’s commission deducted, his actual earnings are far less than expected. “With Bolt, I can make ₦50,000 to ₦60,000 daily and still take home more money,” he explained.
Yet even Bolt’s slightly higher fares aren’t enough for many. Akhigbe recalled that in three months, Bolt deducted ₦900,000 in commissions from his earnings—yet he had no significant savings to show for it. “I earned about ₦3 million, but after fuel and maintenance, I barely kept anything,” he admitted.
Fuel remains one of the biggest cost factors. Some drivers report spending up to ₦180,000 per week on fuel, in addition to ₦30,000 for periodic vehicle maintenance. “They need to raise fares. Wouldn’t it be better to complete fewer trips with better earnings than to run around all day for little profit?” Akhigbe asked.
The situation is even more difficult for drivers who lease their vehicles. As the cost of spare parts and oil rises, many car owners are increasing weekly rental fees, squeezing driver earnings further.
Kayode Olaniyan, once a top Uber earner, now drives a Moove-financed vehicle. He pays ₦9,400 daily to Moove, plus Uber’s 25% commission. After all deductions, his daily take-home pay is around ₦15,000. “If this car were mine, I’d be making a lot more,” he mentioned.
While many drivers favor Bolt for higher weekday fares, Uber remains dominant on weekends.
Adebayo, an Uber driver who also runs a restaurant, only works on weekends but still earns ₦350,000 from about 35 trips. “If I didn’t have my restaurant, I could still afford my ₦2.6 million annual rent just by driving on Uber every weekend,” he said.
His earnings are boosted because his car is classified as a ‘priority car’ on Uber, charging riders 46% more than UberGo, the lowest-priced ride category.
Uber also offers other pricing tiers, such as UberX and Uber Comfort, where fares vary based on ride demand and vehicle quality. For instance, a trip from Somolu to Ikeja costs 63% more on Uber Comfort than UberGo, making car selection a key factor in maximizing driver earnings.
There is no single “best” ride-hailing app—each comes with trade-offs. Based on driver experiences, Bolt is the best overall for higher fares and manageable commissions, Uber is best for weekend drivers and those with premium-category vehicles while InDrive & Rida are ideal for high trip volume but offers the lowest fares.
Drivers who can adapt and switch platforms strategically stand the best chance of maximizing their earnings. As competition intensifies in Nigeria’s ride-hailing industry, drivers must remain agile to navigate fluctuating fares and rising costs.
