Nigerian GIG Workers Struggles: KeepAm Comes To The Rescue.

Nigeria’s ride-hailing drivers are under growing pressure as rising fuel costs, vehicle maintenance, platform commissions, and unclear tax obligations continue to erode earnings across the gig economy. For many drivers working on platforms like Uber, Bolt, and inDrive, daily income increasingly falls short of covering basic operating costs, turning what was once flexible work into a financial gamble.

“I can drive all day and still feel like I made nothing,” said a Lagos-based Bolt driver who has worked on ride-hailing platforms for over four years. “After fuel, repairs, and the app’s cut, there’s always anxiety about taxes. Nobody really tells us what we should be paying or how.”

The strain has exposed a wider problem in Nigeria’s gig economy: workers are treated as independent contractors, yet face regulatory and financial responsibilities similar to small businesses, often without guidance or formal support. As tax authorities signal stronger enforcement across the informal sector, uncertainty has become another cost drivers must absorb.

This is where KeepAm, a Nigerian startup, is stepping in. Rather than offering transport services, the company says it wants to help gig workers understand tax rules, track income, and stay compliant. The aim, according to the startup, is to reduce fear around taxation and help workers avoid penalties that could further shrink already tight margins.

For drivers, that fear is real. “You hear stories about accounts being flagged or people owing money they didn’t plan for,” said an Abuja-based Uber driver. “Most of us are not avoiding taxes—we just don’t understand the system.”

Nigeria’s gig workforce has expanded rapidly, but protections and education have lagged behind. While startups like KeepAm are betting that guidance can offer some relief, the larger challenges—fuel pricing, platform policies, and cost inflation—remain unresolved. Whether clarity alone can stabilise gig work incomes is still an open question, but for drivers stretched thin, even understanding the rules may be a place to start.