Abuja:Orodata Science, a data and civic technology organization, is advocating for stronger protections for passengers and drivers within Nigeria’s e-hailing sector.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Orodata’s report, titled ‘E-Hailing After Uber: Protecting Consumers, Drivers and the Future,’ examines the impact of Uber’s withdrawal from Nigeria and the future prospects of app-based transportation in the nation. The report assesses the evolving competitive environment, with platforms like Bolt, inDrive, LagRide, Rida, Shuttlers, and SafeBoda taking center stage.
The organization asserts that Uber’s departure presents a chance to reassess consumer and driver protections in Nigeria’s e-hailing industry. It emphasizes the importance of focusing not only on platform competition but also on the welfare of passengers and drivers who rely on these services.
Orodata highlights passenger safety, driver welfare, fare structures, platform accountability, and working conditions as key areas needing sustained attention. It argues for stronger regulatory and consumer protection measures as competition among these platforms intensifies.
Drawing lessons from South Africa, the report suggests possible regulatory approaches to safeguarding stakeholders. Orodata sees this changing market as an opportunity for Nigeria to craft policies that balance innovation with consumer and driver protection.
The report emerges amidst renewed competition among e-hailing operators following Uber’s exit after 12 years in Nigeria. Orodata points out that this has prompted broader questions about the sector’s resilience and the protections in place for stakeholders when a major player departs.
The organization urges authorities and industry stakeholders to leverage this transitional period to enhance accountability and establish clearer safeguards in the e-hailing sector. It emphasizes the importance of ensuring that technological advances translate into safer and more sustainable transportation services.
Additionally, Orodata calls for more attention to the working conditions of drivers and the economic challenges they face. It advocates for consumers to have access to safe and accountable transportation services across all platforms.
The report suggests that the post-Uber era offers a chance to create a more sustainable e-hailing ecosystem through effective regulation, competition, and consumer protection. This ecosystem should also uphold drivers’ rights and foster accountability among operators.
Orodata’s report is part of its broader efforts to promote data-driven public discourse and accountability in areas affecting Nigerians.