VIDEO: LAGRIDE driver claims firm manufactured ₦1.3m debt after seeking payments

This report from The Punch highlights a distressing situation faced by a driver on the LAGRIDE platform in Lagos, raising serious questions about the company's practices and its treatment of its drivers. The driver's account paints a picture of alleged exploitation, where a demand for legitimate earnings is met with the fabrication and escalation of a substantial debt.

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It was ₦1,165,000 this morning. While we are here, they updated it to ₦1.3 million and I have not worked for days.

The driver's testimony is particularly concerning because it suggests a retaliatory measure by LAGRIDE. He claims to have earned millions for the company over several months but has received no payment since October. The dramatic increase in the alleged debt, from ₦375,000 to ₦1.3 million, occurring even during a live interview, points to a potentially manipulative and predatory system designed to keep drivers indebted and unable to claim their rightful pay.

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I wasn’t on debt before. The day I confronted them for my payments, my money, they said pay ₦375,000. It’s refundable. After a month, I did not see my money.

From a Nigerian perspective, where informal employment and gig economy platforms are increasingly prevalent, stories like this underscore the vulnerability of workers. The lack of transparency and the potential for companies to wield significant power over drivers' livelihoods are critical issues. The driver's inability to get a clear breakdown of the debt further fuels suspicion that the figures are arbitrary and designed to disadvantage him.

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LAGRIDE operates a fully transparent earnings and remittance system, and every captain has access to their complete account records at any time.

While LAGRIDE's PR Director, Ifeanyi Abraham, denies arbitrary debt assignment and points to a transparent system, the driver's detailed account and the escalating debt figures warrant a thorough investigation. The Punch's reporting brings attention to the need for greater accountability and fair practices within the ride-hailing sector in Nigeria, ensuring that drivers are not subjected to such alleged injustices.

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Any outstanding balance on a captain’s account arises from documented operational obligations agreed at onboarding — these figures are not arbitrarily assigned and a full breakdown is available to the captain through the appropriate channel.