By Kess Osharode

The rising cases of vehicle theft, road accidents, and disputes between fleet owners and their drivers have exposed a serious gap in Nigeria’s transport and car‑hire industry: the absence of mandatory comprehensive vehicle insurance, tracking systems, and basic risk‑management practices.

This gap is not only bad for business, but it is also placing an unfair and devastating burden on low‑income employees who are being forced to bear financial and legal consequences that should never fall on them.

A System That Punishes the Wrong People

Across the country, drivers employed by fleet managers, logistics companies, and car‑hire operators are routinely arrested, detained, or pressured into crippling debt whenever a vehicle is stolen or involved in an accident. Many of these workers earn between ₦3,000 and ₦7,000 per day; barely enough to support their families, yet they are expected to replace vehicles worth millions of naira when incidents occur.

This practice is not only unethical; it is economically irrational. No responsible transport business anywhere in the world operates without comprehensive insurance, GPS tracking, and dash cameras. These tools exist to protect businesses from loss and to prevent the criminalization of innocent employees who are simply doing their jobs.

The Case of Elijah: A Disturbing Example

The ordeal of Elijah, a driver employed by a fleet manager in Delta State, highlights the severity of the problem.

On 14 February 2026, Elijah parked the company’s Toyota Hilux in front of a plaza around the Jakpa area to quickly buy an item. Within minutes, the vehicle had been stolen.

Instead of activating a tracker (none was installed) or filing an insurance claim (none existed), the employer had Elijah arrested.

Elijah spent over five days in police custody, surviving on food brought by family members, food that often never reached him because it was seized by cellmates.

After appeals to senior police officials, he was released, but the employer continues to threaten the driver, demanding that he “replace the vehicle” or pay millions of naira in “settlement”.

Meanwhile, the employer has made no meaningful effort to track the stolen vehicle, investigate the theft, or collaborate with authorities to recover it. This is not an isolated case. It reflects a pattern of exploitation and negligence across the industry.

Why Comprehensive Insurance and Tracking Must Be Mandatory

Transport and car‑hire businesses face predictable risks: theft, accidents, vandalism, and road incidents. These risks are inherent to the business model, not caused by employees.

That is why responsible operators globally rely on:

Comprehensive vehicle insurance to cover theft, accidents, and damage

GPS trackers to monitor vehicle movement and aid recovery

Dash cams to provide evidence in case of disputes or false accusations

Risk‑assessment protocols to identify vulnerabilities and plan responses

When incidents occur, it should be the insurance company, the employer, and the police who investigate, not the driver being thrown into a cell while his family begs for his release.

The Human Cost of Neglect

For poorly paid drivers, an arrest or accusation can destroy an entire household:

Families borrow money they cannot repay

Children are withdrawn from school

Relatives spend days at police stations seeking bail

The driver’s reputation is permanently damaged

Many never recover financially or emotionally

No job should expose a worker to such danger, especially when employers could prevent it with affordable insurance and basic tracking technology.

The Role of Reputable Companies in Preventing Abuse

Beyond legislation, reputable organizations that hire vehicles for corporate use also have a responsibility. Before accepting any vehicle for a contract or partnership, companies should demand:

Proof of comprehensive insurance

Evidence of a functioning GPS tracker

Dash‑cam installation

A documented risk‑assessment report

By insisting on these requirements, companies help ensure that vehicles used for their operations are properly protected and that drivers are not exposed to unnecessary legal or financial risks.

This simple due‑diligence step can prevent situations like Elijah’s and promote a safer, more accountable transport ecosystem.

A Call for Legislative Action

Nigeria urgently needs laws that:

Compel all fleet managers, transport operators, and car‑hire companies to carry comprehensive insurance on every vehicle.

Require installation of GPS trackers and dash cams.

Prohibit the arrest or detention of innocent employees for incidents that fall under insurable business risks.

Establish penalties for employers who shift business losses onto workers.

Protect drivers through clear labour standards and dispute‑resolution mechanisms.

Without such reforms, more Nigerians will suffer Elijah’s fate, and fewer families will be willing to allow their loved ones to take driving jobs in the private transport sector.

Protecting Workers Protects the Industry

A transport business built on fear, intimidation, and police arrests is not sustainable. A business built on insurance, technology, and proper risk management is.

Nigeria’s lawmakers, labour unions, corporate organizations, and civil society groups must act now. Protecting drivers is not only a moral obligation, but it is also essential for the long‑term stability and credibility of the nation’s transport economy.

Kess Osharode is a security services operative