By Emmanuel Daniji

For a Lagos ride-hailing driver, starting work each day means more than getting behind the steering wheel. It means hoping for safe trips, enough customers, money to pay school fees and food on the family table.

One Nigerian driver working with Bolt and inDrive has drawn attention online after sharing a prayer he says before beginning his daily work, revealing some of the worries that come with earning a living on the road.

In a video circulating on social media, the driver asks God for protection, better earnings and enough money to cater for his wife and children.

His prayer also reflects the financial pressures facing drivers who must contend with fuel costs while trying to make their work profitable.

The driver specifically prayed for higher fares on trips across Lagos, mentioning routes involving Sango-Tedo, Lekki, the airport and Ikeja. He also asked that the burden of rising fuel prices should not fall on drivers alone.

Beyond his personal needs, the driver called for Nigerians to protest and reclaim the country from its leaders, bringing the country’s wider economic and political frustrations into his prayer.

He also had a message for passengers who request rides only to cancel them later. In a humorous but pointed moment, he called for thunder to strike those who cancel trips, particularly rides worth ₦1,400.

Although his comments about cancellations drew attention, the video also offered a glimpse into the daily realities of drivers whose earnings depend on completed trips, fuel expenses and the demand for their services.

For many ride-hailing drivers, every trip represents an opportunity to earn money, but it also comes with costs and uncertainties. A cancelled ride can mean wasted time, while expensive fuel can reduce what remains after a day’s work.

The driver’s prayer has resonated with the everyday concerns of workers trying to keep their households running amid economic pressure.

His video is a reminder that behind the convenience of booking a ride with a few taps on a phone are drivers with families to support, bills to pay and hopes of returning home safely after a long day on the road.