The Professional E-hailing Drivers and Private Owners Association (PEDPA) on Saturday called on the Federal Government to fully regulate the e-hailing transportation subsector in the country.
Mr Idris Shonuga, the President, PEDPA, made the appeal in Lagos during a seminar on safety and insurance.
The event was organised by the association in conjunction with Universal Insurance Company.
Shonuga said the e-hailing business had become a very important transport unit in Nigeria.
“The business has become a significant transport unit in Nigeria, having rendered well over 1.5 million trips across the country.
“These are teeming youths who subscribe to this means to solve the transportation problem in Nigeria.
“So, government needs to regulate the sector because there are lots of things that are not good in the sector.
“The Federal Government needs to mandate all app companies to establish a transportation unit at their business service unit because most of the companies hide under technology whereas they sell transportation services,” he said.
Shonuga said members also needed adequate working benefits and health management scheme as well as having access to soft loans or car loans.
He said: “This is because the vehicles undergo ware and tear, since it has become their offices.
“It is professional Nigerians who render the services commuting passengers from one point to another, moving passengers with good customer comportment.
“We have well over 75,000 Nigerians who subscribe to this kind of trade.
“It is almost impossible for drivers to renew their car because there is no mechanism for loans.
“Hence, we need to create a better atmosphere for drivers to do their work without any challenge.”
He said that over 50,000 youths were currently engaging in e-hailing business reducing the unemployment rate in the country.
Shonuga said drivers should be entitled to a pension scheme, adding that certain percentage should be set aside in their corporative wallet for special schemes and mortgage plan.
He said the association would partner with Universal Insurance Company to secure e-hailing business, protect the life of drivers and their vehicles, and create an instalmental payment mechanism for the process.
Dr Benedict Ujuatuonu, Managing Director, Universal Insurance Company, urged drivers to key into the insurance package, adding that the company had made it affordable and convinient via technology.
Ujuatuonu said they could buy, lodge complaint and get all the services required through their phones without the intervention of anybody, most importantly in the event of eventualities, they would have their claims.
“There is also an extended personal accident cover that provides cover to drivers in case he is injured during accident, which is first of its kind,” he said