Lagos State finally launches ride-hailing service LagosRide – See how to become a driver

Lagos State Government Wednesday launched LagosRide, a ride-hailing service that the government said will allow operators to become owners of brand new vehicles acquired for the service within four years.

The new service is a partnership between Lagos State-owned Ibile Holdings and CIG Motors Company Limited, which the state governor said will help in the drive to develop an efficient transportation model in tune with modernity and comfort.

“A beneficiary will be provided a brand-new car which will become the driver’s property after completion of the payment of the vehicle’s subsidised cost,” Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said.

Sanwo-Olu said the state did not intend to run existing hailing ride operators out of the business but to offer safer alternatives and clear the roads of rickety cars being used for taxi business.

Operators are required to pay about N1.9 million down payment, which covers the 20 per cent equity of cost of vehicle, registration and insurance.

Each car being used in the scheme comes with technology-enabled security features that monitor every journey undertaken, the state government said.

“This taxi scheme will complement the various bus services which are making a significant impact in the lives of our people; the water transport service, which is recording unprecedented patronage, as well as the Blue and Red Line Rail services which are on course to commence commercial operations between the last quarter of this year and the first quarter of 2023,” Sanwo-Olu said.

To ensure riders’ and passengers’ security, security gadget, including a 360 dashboard camera that will give 24-hour audio-visual feeds to the control centre, has been pre-installed in each car deployed for the scheme. Each car also comes with a panic button to be used in case of assault or emergency. The panic button is also on mobile applications and is connected to the Control and Command Centre.

Sanwo-Olu also hinted the automobile assembly plant being set up in Lagos – another component of the partnership with CIG Motors is 60 per cent completed, with an anticipated launch and start of operations expected in September.

“What we are witnessing today is that Lagos is moving away from the era of rickety kabu kabu to a brand-new, comfortable and safe transport system.

‘The multiplier effect of this initiative on job creation, youth employment and economic growth and development in the state cannot be overstated,” he stated.

Commissioner for Transportation Frederic Oladeinde described the scheme as ‘another milestone achievement’ by the government.

He noted that the initiative has joined an array of other innovative solutions initiated in the transport sector which are targeted at redefining public transportation.