Ride-hailing platform Bolt has reported a 92 per cent week-on-week surge in driver registrations across Nigeria as drivers migrate to alternative platforms following Uber’s withdrawal from the country.
The Estonian mobility company, which has operated in Nigeria since 2016, disclosed the surge on Wednesday after Uber officially shut down its Nigerian operations on September 2 after 12 years of service.
The Senior General Manager for Bolt West Africa, Teddy Appa-Dankyi, confirmed the spike in driver applications, stating that while the increased interest reflects driver confidence in the platform, the company will not compromise on safety or ease its standard vetting procedures.
Bolt emphasized that all new applicants must satisfy its existing background and safety checks, adding that drivers previously banned or suspended for misconduct or safety violations will not be reinstated.
The development signals a major shift in Nigeria’s ride-hailing sector, with remaining market operators actively expanding their driver networks to absorb demand in an industry currently grappling with high fuel prices, rising vehicle maintenance expenses, and broader economic pressures.
