Unique: Uber and Lagos state finish month-long row on real-time information sharing

Mobility big Uber and Lagos state have reached an settlement, ending a month-long row after the federal government’s request to enforce a 2020 deal to share real-time information. 

In March, two individuals on Uber’s aspect of the argument raised surveillance and privateness issues following the request. Uber held out on giving the federal government entry at the same time as rivals like Bolt acquiesced. 

The federal government responded by impounding vehicles belonging to Uber drivers and the state of talks between each events remained unsure.

“We’ve reached a truce, we shifted floor, and Uber too has shifted floor,” Olasunkanmi Ojowuro, the Lagos state director of transport operations, advised TechCabal on a name. “The impounded vehicles have since been launched after 72 hours, based mostly on compassionate grounds.”

Uber didn’t reply to a request for feedback.

Whereas the data-sharing decision prevented service disruption, driver discontent persists. Many drivers need Uber to decrease its 25% fee whereas others level out the elevated problem ranges related to driving. Lengthy queues for petrol at gasoline stations and accelerating inflation proceed to depress earnings.

Drivers have additionally accused Uber of reducing fares.

“The value mechanism contributes to the delay in getting rides,” stated Ibrahim Ayoade, the final secretary of the App-Primarily based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON). One other driver, Somoye Olalekan defined that low fares have taken him off the platform. A publication reported that Uber drivers obtained a 10% commission increase. Ayoade has since countered that report as a short-lived promotional marketing campaign which was by no means sustained.