Uber denies failing to share required data with Lagos State Government

Uber, the global ride-hailing company, has refuted claims that it failed to adhere to a 2020 agreement to share data with the Lagos State Government. The agreement requires ride-hailing companies to provide real-time user trip data, giving the government access to backend information.

Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the Lagos State Commissioner of Transportation, stressed the need for immediate action to rectify Uber’s supposed non-compliance with the Data Sharing Agreement and the state’s API integration. Citing safety concerns, Osiyemi argued that access to trip data was crucial for the wellbeing of all residents of Lagos State.

Responding to these claims, an Uber spokesperson confirmed that Uber is committed to complying with regulatory requirements in all markets, including Nigeria. The spokesperson reassured that Uber has fulfilled the regulatory obligations of Lagos State, comprising an annual fee, a per-trip levy, and data-sharing requirements.

The 2020 agreement was established following prolonged discussions between ride-hailing companies and the Lagos State Government about the importance of regulation. These regulations are not unique to Nigeria. In 2016, Uber revealed that it shared the data of 11.6 million passengers and 600,000 drivers with state and local regulatory authorities. However, Uber has argued in the past that this included data points that exceeded what regulators required to perform their jobs.

Despite this, Uber often has limited negotiating power against governments. In 2020, the company, along with other operators in Nigeria, consented to pay an annual license fee of ₦25 million and a ₦20 road improvement levy per trip.

This was a more favorable outcome than that experienced by motorcycle-hailing startups like Gokada and ORide. New regulations prohibited commercial motorcycles under 200cc on highways, effectively eradicating an entire business sector.

For the time being, Uber will need to negotiate with the Lagos State Government, an area in which it has considerable experience. A spokesperson for the company stated, “We have been a committed ride-hailing player in Nigeria for the past 8 years and are keen to continue raising the industry bar on mobility.”