Ride-hailing company Bolt has reported a sharp increase in the number of drivers seeking to join its platform following Uber’s withdrawal from the Nigerian market.
The company said driver registrations on its platform in Nigeria rose by 92 per cent week-on-week after Uber ended its operations in the country.
Bolt, which has operated in Nigeria since 2016, disclosed the figure in a statement sent to PUNCH Online on Wednesday.
Uber, one of Bolt’s major competitors in Nigeria, stopped operating in the country on September 2 after roughly 12 years of service. Its departure has led drivers and passengers to explore alternative ride-hailing platforms amid continuing pressures from fuel, vehicle maintenance and other operating costs.
However, Bolt did not provide the actual number of driver registrations recorded before and after Uber’s exit, meaning the precise size of the increase cannot be determined from the percentage figure alone.
Senior General Manager of Bolt West Africa, Teddy Appa-Dankyi, confirmed the development, saying the company had witnessed a 92 per cent rise in weekly driver registrations since Uber left the Nigerian market.
According to Appa-Dankyi, the increased interest demonstrates that more drivers are considering Bolt as an alternative platform for earning income.
He, however, stressed that the increase in applications would not lead the company to relax its safety and onboarding procedures.
Bolt said all prospective drivers would still be required to complete its established registration process and meet its safety standards before being allowed to operate on the platform.
The company also clarified that drivers who had previously been suspended or removed over serious safety violations, misconduct or other breaches would not automatically regain access to the platform.
Appa-Dankyi said maintaining safety standards remained a priority despite the growing number of people seeking to register as drivers.
The development comes as Nigeria’s ride-hailing sector adjusts to Uber’s exit, with existing operators positioned to attract some of the drivers and riders previously using the platform.
For Bolt, the increase in driver applications could expand its available driver network as users seek alternatives following Uber’s departure.
The company said it would continue to invest in its platform and driver community as the Nigerian mobility industry responds to the changing competitive environment.
