The Amalgamated Union of App-Based mostly Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), Lagos State Council, has raised the alarm over the seizure of autos and arrest of its members working with Uber by the state Ministry of Transport (MOT).
Whereas calling on Lagos State to cease arresting its members, the union really useful a brief suspension of using the Uber app till the service supplier reconciles with the federal government.
The State Public Relations Officer of AUATON, Steven Iwindoye, mentioned the Lagos State Authorities, by the Ministry of Transport (MOT), has initiated enforcement motion towards the corporate.
He lamented that the most recent measures had been as a result of e-hailing firm's refusal to combine its Software Programming Interface (API) with that of the state authorities in order that they will entry the corporate's database, which accommodates info on each drivers and accommodates passengers.
He mentioned Moove autos are significantly focused as a result of they’re distinctive and it’s common information that all of them run on the Uber platform.
“Regardless of a number of letters from the federal government, Uber has didn’t comply, resulting in the choice to power the arrest of Uber app customers. As a accountable commerce union, we need to defend our members from the subjugation of this app firm and the Lagos State authorities. Subsequently, we advocate that you just quickly cease utilizing the Uber app,” Iwindoye mentioned.
The spokesperson additionally suggested members to dump the corporate's app till the problems between the corporate and the federal government are resolved.
He mentioned the API, which offers with sharing real-time transactions and actions for safety and security functions, has different compliant apps apart from Uber, permitting the act to have an effect on their members in Lagos State.
To that finish, he urged the federal government to shut Uber workplaces and their servers as a substitute of arresting harmless drivers attempting to make ends meet.
In accordance with drivers whose autos had been seized, the ministry used Gestapo-style ways to lure them.
One of many victims defined that the MOT officers proceeded by ordering rides on the Uber platform, solely to assault the drivers who accepted the rides, deflate their tires and seize their autos.
In accordance with Sunday, a Moove driver, utilizing the Uber app whose automobile was seized, mentioned: “I got here to Alausa to drop off a passenger, and somebody ordered me. Considering it was a passenger, they lured me right into a compound, and earlier than I knew what was taking place, they took the keys from me and deflated my tires. I requested them what the issue was and so they mentioned Uber has an issue with the federal government.”
Makes an attempt to contact Uber for remark had been unsuccessful because the calls positioned weren’t being picked up on the time the report was filed.
