Inside Nigeria’s E-hailing Business: What Users Of Uber and Bolt Think About Transportation Services

There are several reasons why the e-hailing driving business has become lucrative in Nigeria. It serves the essential need of many Nigerians—comfort, privacy, and affordability all in one. Today, e-hailing businesses in Nigeria are the most frequently used service by many Nigerians. 

In cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Asaba, and other cities in Nigeria, residents patronize them more than public transportation services. Generally, e-hailing rides are always at the beck and call of users, and they provide extra services public transport doesn’t. 

But, over a few years, e-hailing rides have been developing mixed reactions, feelings, and experiences in the minds of many Nigerians. In this article, we dissect what users of e-hailing rides like Uber, and Bolt think of its services.

What Are Users Saying About Uber In Nigeria?

Uber is prominent mainly in Lagos, Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan. Although Uber is known to many Nigerians, it only operates in these five cities currently. 

Although Uber is functional, the experiences many Nigerians have with this riding service are not similar. In places like Lagos, the cost is usually higher than in other places. It’s mainly so during festive periods, rainy seasons, traffic surges, or late in the afternoon.

Even with the prices that quickly go up, another challenge is the insecurity with using Uber. On social media, many people lament their many experiences using Uber. Many enjoy using Uber and find it the most reliable compared to other e-hailing rides in Nigeria.

What Are Bolt Users In Nigeria Saying?

Bolt is another e-hailing app used by many Nigerians. It spreads across several cities in the country more than Uber, making it the most common e-hailing ride. 

In cities like Lagos, users complain about the exorbitant prices Bolt drivers charge. In Lagos, a single trip to a destination could cost about ₦1,500 to ₦15,000, depending on time and location. A common thing Lagos Bolt users experience with it is the “increased demand.” 

To many, the opinion is that Bolt drivers in Lagos manipulate the prices themselves whether there’s increased demand. In cities like Abuja and Calabar, a Bolt fare could cost between ₦500 to ₦1,000 for a single trip, but Lagos Bolt users have never experienced such prices except they’re using a discount code.

Aside from price, Bolt users in Nigeria have had countless terrible experiences with the ride, although there’s nothing good about it anymore. Every fortnight, there’s a social media thread narrating gruesome experiences of either stealing or escaping a kidnapping by Bolt drivers. 

With this, many Nigerians see Bolt as an unsafe means of transportation, which they have to take extra precautions while using. 

Conclusion

Uber and Bolt are some of the leading e-hailing rides in Nigeria. There’s no one-size-fits-all experience for all the users. But, with the current challenges users experience with e-hailing rides, many Nigerians patronize them with caution.