Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Ride-hailing company Bolt has recorded a 92 per cent week-on-week increase in driver registrations in Nigeria following the departure of Uber from the country’s market.
The company disclosed the development in a statement made available on Wednesday, indicating that more drivers are turning to alternative platforms to continue operating after Uber ended its Nigerian operations on September 2.
Uber’s exit after about 12 years in Nigeria has triggered shifts within the ride-hailing industry, with competing platforms seeking to attract both drivers and passengers amid rising operational costs.
Commenting on the development, Bolt’s Senior General Manager for West Africa, Teddy Appa-Dankyi, said the increase reflected growing confidence in the platform among drivers.
“Bolt has recorded a 92 per cent week-on-week increase in driver registrations following Uber’s exit from the Nigerian market,” he said.
Despite the surge in applications, Appa-Dankyi stressed that the company would not relax its onboarding procedures or safety standards.
“We are encouraged by the strong increase in interest from drivers looking to join Bolt. It shows drivers’ confidence in our platform and the opportunities we provide. However, growth cannot come at the expense of safety,” he said.
Bolt stated that all prospective drivers would continue to undergo its existing screening and onboarding processes before being approved to operate on the platform.
The company also clarified that drivers previously suspended or blocked for serious safety violations, misconduct or other policy breaches would not be automatically readmitted.
“Every driver who joins Bolt must meet our onboarding and safety requirements, and those standards remain unchanged,” Appa-Dankyi added.
The increase in registrations comes as Nigeria’s ride-hailing sector adapts to Uber’s departure, with operators competing for market share in an environment shaped by high fuel prices, vehicle maintenance expenses and other operating costs.
Bolt said it would continue investing in its platform and supporting its driver community as the country’s mobility and transportation market continues to evolve.
