ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Adebayo Padmore, a LagRide driver and National Deputy President of the Amalgamated Union of app-based transporters in Nigeria, collapses and dies in Lekki, Lagos.
Padmore, in his mid-40s, collapsed while inspecting his car before starting work on 8 January. Despite being part of a Zoom meeting the previous evening, he tragically did not survive, succumbing to cardiac arrest linked to fatigue and accumulated stress, according to the hospital’s medical report.
Jossy Adaraniwon, the union spokesperson, decries the hostile conditions faced by ride-hailing drivers in Nigeria, highlighting concerns over the challenging working conditions for ride-hailing drivers.
He said, “Bayo had worked the night before and decided to take some rest in his car on one of the streets in Lekki.
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“He woke up around 5 am to start work and while preparing, he opened his bonnet to check the engine oil. It was at the point of going back into his vehicle that he slumped.
“Our colleagues who were there had to pour water on him quickly and later took him to a nearby hospital but he did not make it alive. It was an unfortunate incident because he was still part of our Zoom meeting on Sunday evening and he did not sound like he was not feeling fine.”
He pointed at high commissions, low fares, demanding daily targets, lack of healthcare insurance, and anti-worker policies.
The union demands proper regulation and improved welfare for platform workers, urging Lagos Ride management to support Padmore’s family and adopt worker-friendly policies.
He said, “The great Padmore’s death is one that cannot be exonerated from the hostile condition of work by platforms like Lagride, Uber, Bolt and InDriver resulting from high commission, low fares, high daily target, higher asset repayment, and lack of healthcare insurance and anti-workers policy that subject platform workers to prolonged working hours, fatigue, low earnings, lack of healthcare, lack of rest time and struggle to meet the daily target, family time and needs.
“As a union, our demand for adequate regulation and welfare of platform workers remains unflinching until victory is assured. Our call to the Lagos Ride management is to render necessary support and compensation for the deceased’s family and adopt a platform worker-friendly policy immediately.”
Padmore’s burial took place in his hometown in Oyo State, and the incident adds to the ongoing challenges faced by ride-hailing drivers, prompting renewed calls for industry reform.