Driver slumps, dies in Lagos

A driver with LagRide, a Lagos State-owned ride-sharing app, Adebayo Padmore, has been confirmed dead after collapsing in the Lekki area of the state.

It was gathered that the driver collapsed when he was about to begin work on Monday, January 8, 2024.

It was learnt that Padmore, who was the National Deputy President of the Amalgamated Union of the app-based transporters of Nigeria, was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.

The spokesperson for the union, Jossy Adaraniwon, who confirmed the incident on Sunday, January 14, disclosed that the late driver, who was in his mid-40s, had opened his car bonnet to check the engine oil when he collapsed on the spot.

Adaraniwon said the medical report obtained from the hospital revealed that the deceased died of cardiac arrest, adding that Pademore’s death was not unconnected to the pressure on the job.

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“Bayo had worked the night before and decided to take some rest in his car on one of the streets in Lekki. He woke up at about 5 a.m. to start work and while preparing, he opened his bonnet to check the engine oil. It was at the point of going back into his vehicle that he slumped.

“Our colleagues who were there had to pour water on him quickly and later took him to a nearby hospital but he did not make it alive.

“It was an unfortunate incident because he was still part of our Zoom meeting on Sunday evening and he did not sound like he was not feeling fine,” he told Punch.

Adaraniwon added: “Padmore’s death cannot be exonerated from the hostile condition of work by platforms like Lagride, Uber, Bolt and InDriver resulting from high commission, low fares, high daily target, higher asset repayment, and lack of healthcare insurance and anti-workers policy that subject platform workers to prolonged working hours, fatigue, low earnings, lack of healthcare, lack of rest time and struggle to meet the daily target, family time and needs.

“As a union, our demand for adequate regulation and welfare of platform workers remains unflinching until victory is assured.

“Our call to the Lagos Ride management is to render necessary support and compensation for the deceased’s family and adopt a platform worker-friendly policy immediately.”

It was, however, gathered that the deceased was buried in his hometown in Oyo State on Thursday.

The Star