E-hailing drivers in Nigeria, particularly those working for Uber and Bolt, are advocating for the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) as a means of passenger verification. This call comes in the wake of reports of three e-hailing drivers registered under the Uber and Bolt platforms being tragically shot dead by gunmen in Port Harcourt and Abuja.
The President of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria, Comrade Adedamola Adeniran, believes that implementing NIN verification for passengers would enhance the safety of e-hailing drivers.
Adedamola Adeniran, as the president of the union, emphasized the urgency of this matter, stating,
“As a registered trade union with the responsibility to protect our members against preventable circumstances like this, we are making a call on the government to, as a matter of urgency, direct the Ministry of Transport, Science, and Digital Economy or any relevant ministry to direct these app companies to capture the National Identity Number of the passenger before ordering a ride.”
According to a letter sent to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, signed by the Secretary of the union, Comrade Ibrahim Ayoade, the incidents involved the tragic deaths of three e-hailing drivers – Emmanuel Daniel, Roland Asuru, and a mechanic named John Okon, in Port Harcourt, with another driver, Kelvin Oga, losing his life in Abuja. These incidents occurred within a span of one to three hours on October 10, 2023, and involved attempts to snatch the drivers’ vehicles.
The e-hailing drivers and the mechanic were killed in different locations in the Rivers state, emphasizing the urgent need for increased security measures in these areas.
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E-hailing Drivers Urge NIN Verification for Uber and Bolt Passengers
The Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria highlighted that the safety of e-hailing drivers is a growing concern, as numerous incidents of car-snatching and attacks have been reported.
The letter to the Rivers State Police Command further emphasized the need for the police to address this security issue and bring the culprits to justice.
The call for NIN verification aims to provide a more secure environment for e-hailing drivers, who often face dangerous situations while providing essential transportation services.
The union hopes that their plea for enhanced security measures, including passenger profiling and the use of NIN, will help protect the lives of their members and prevent further tragic incidents.
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