The Lagos state government has announced August 27, 2020 as the commencement date for the implementation of the new levies on e – hailing ride operators.
The agreement was reached after a meeting with the state government and the e- hailing operators on newly introduced service charge on every trip made through e-hailing platforms like Uber and Bolt, among other guidelines.
It will be recalled that the new regulation for e-hailing taxing services was earlier scheduled to come into effect on August 20, 2020.
This was contained in a document by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation titled: Guidelines for Online Hailing Business Operation of Taxi in Lagos State 2020’ issued.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde said the new guidelines and regulations for online hailing taxi services also known as e-hailing is aimed at ensuring safety, security and sanity in the sector and added that the State would also begin the collection of a 20 naira per trip tax known as Road Improvement Fund from the 27th of this month.
Presenting an-eight-point communique from the meeting which was presided over by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Dr. Oladeinde emphasised that contrary to rumours making the round that the State wants to force operators out of business with huge levies, the new guidelines and regulations were aimed at ensuring a level.playing field for all stakeholders.
He noted that the state Government has reached an agreement with operators to now charge N10 per cent per trip instead of earlier proposed 20 per cent per trip charge.
He stated that the N20 per trip charges would be housed under the Road Improvement Fund.
Oladeinde revealed that other agreements reached include 20 per cent reduction in the operating and renewal license fees, aside drivers completing their documentation within the next 90 days.
He added that the documents the drivers should acquire include the Lagos State Registration Agency card, drivers license, among other documents, saying drivers who failed to comply would be banned from operating among other penalties. He further said that a one-stop shop had been created to ensure that the drivers all the required documents easily.
The Commissioner said the operators were also mandated to provide data about each trip made on their platforms every week, stating that the data would help government to plan better on areas it should deploy resources.
In a remark the President of Professional E-hailing Drivers and Private Owners Association, Mr. Idris Shonuga urged e-hailing drivers to comply with the state government directives and commended the state government for helping to resolves all the grey areas.
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