A recent incident involving a ride-hailing service in Lagos has sparked widespread concern over passenger safety and driver conduct. A female passenger, identified as Aderemi, alleged that she was assaulted by an inDrive driver, Samson, following a dispute over air conditioning during a late-night ride from Ikoyi to Ogudu.
According to Aderemi, the driver informed her at the start of the trip that his air conditioning was not functional due to insufficient gas. Despite her initial hesitation, she agreed to proceed with the ride, considering the late hour. However, tensions flared upon reaching her destination when Aderemi refused to pay the full fare, citing the lack of air conditioning as a breach of service. The disagreement escalated, leading to a physical altercation.
Aderemi claimed that the driver slapped her multiple times, dragged her, and punched her in the face. In her account, she stated, “He was punching me badly in my face like he was fighting with his fellow man.” The incident was eventually reported to the Ogudu Police Station, where investigations are ongoing.
In response, inDrive has suspended the driver from its platform pending the outcome of an internal review. The company’s representative in Nigeria, Adeleye Adeyemo, emphasised their commitment to passenger safety and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement authorities. “Passenger safety is at the core of inDrive’s values, and we are committed to fostering a secure and respectful environment for all users,” Adeyemo stated.
This incident has reignited discussions about the safety of ride-hailing services in Lagos, with many calling for stricter regulations and improved safety measures. Advocacy groups have urged ride-hailing companies to implement enhanced driver screening processes, in-app safety features, and better conflict resolution protocols to prevent such occurrences in the future.
As Lagos continues to embrace ride-hailing as a convenient mode of transportation, incidents like this highlight the need for a balanced approach that ensures the safety and well-being of both passengers and drivers.
