"Insecurity, shortage of drivers drive Uber fares up 92%", 4 September 2021

Data from Rakuten Intelligence has shown that the cost of Uber rides between January 2018 and July 2021 has increased, 92 percent.

Many riders (customers) have also complained about increased wait times for rides. The major reason for the delays in ‘ride arrivals’ is the recent shortage of drivers.

In early July 2021, Uber drivers were about 40 percent below capacity. Uber drivers in Abuja have complained and lamented over the continued threat to their lives by carjackers, kidnappers, ritual killers and armed robbers.

According to their recent count, over 10 drivers had been killed and their cars are stolen, while many others were injured by the hoodlums...

“You want to pick a rider and you see funny names like Ghost, Snake, Juju, Scorpion, Grave Death, Death, and yet they will use Uber platforms to request a ride and the companies are not doing anything to stop the killings. You write to them and they will tell you, ‘we will let the authorities know,’ and that’s it,” the group said...

“This year alone, over 10 of our drivers were killed and their cars taken away and many were injured; some sustained permanent disabilities because of these carjackers,” Emeka Emerole chairman of OHPAN said in a recent interview.

To turn things around, Uber has launched a $250 million driver stimulus and has invested in more driver bonuses and incentives.

“We’ve added thousands of drivers to the platform and expect rider wait times and prices to improve moving forward”, the group stated.