Festive rush spikes Lagos ride-hailing fares

Ride-hailing prices in Lagos have surged as the city’s Detty December celebrations draw crowds to concerts, beach parties, shopping centres, and nightlife venues. The influx of residents, returnees, and tourists has pushed up demand for services on platforms such as Uber, Bolt, and inDrive, particularly during peak hours, drivers said on Monday.

The Public Relations Officer of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, Steven Iwindoye, explained to The PUNCH that the December rush typically results in drivers handling consecutive trips. He added that fares often double during this period, as passengers prioritise speed and convenience over cost.

The surge in demand has been worsened by heavy traffic across major routes, including the Third Mainland Bridge, Ikorodu Road, Lekki-Epe Expressway, and Ikeja corridors. Gridlock has turned short trips into hours-long journeys, activating surge pricing on ride-hailing apps and pushing fares significantly higher as commuters compete for available drivers.

Iwindoye attributed much of the price increase to traffic congestion, saying trips that should take about 40 minutes can stretch to as long as three hours during the festive season. “The surge is expected to continue through the holidays but should ease after the celebrations, with prices likely to drop by mid-January 2026,” he stated.

Beyond pricing, the festive rush has also increased the workload for drivers, who are spending longer hours on the road to meet demand. The pressure has made vehicle condition and endurance more important for those hoping to maximise earnings during the period.

One of the drivers, Abbas Alhassan, said the “season has been demanding but rewarding for drivers with well-maintained vehicles.” While acknowledging that the long hours can be tiring due to the volume of activities across the city, he said the high demand presents an opportunity to earn more, although he prefers not to work at night.

Passengers, however, have raised concerns about fare volatility during trips. Some commuters say prices sometimes rise before a journey ends, adding to the frustration of navigating Lagos traffic during the festive period.