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Tag: Bolt

  • Bolt unveils measures

    Bolt unveils measures

    Ride-hailing platform, Bolt, has reinforced its commitment to safety for both riders and drivers by successfully hosting Bolt Public Safety Summit in Lagos.

    This follows the success of its Global Safety Campaign in December 2024.

    The summit held yesterday, followed a Safety Press Briefing earlier at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, and brought together stakeholders from government, law enforcement, civil society, media, and the Bolt rider community.

    The event highlighted its ongoing investments in technology, driver education, and platform integrity, while providing a unique platform for open dialogue with riders on safety expectations and shared responsibilities in urban mobility.

    During the briefing, Bolt shared recent progress in key safety metrics. The platform recorded a 42per cent reduction in offline trips in the last 3 months, indicating greater usage of in-app safety tools. In addition, there was a 298per cent increase in the use of the Trusted Contacts feature, which grew from 7,839 users in January to 31,216 in June. The Pick-Up Code feature also gained traction, with 5,568 riders in Nigeria enabling it.

    Read Also: Kwate releases Usain Bolt

    General Manager, Bolt Nigeria Osi Oguah, said: “At Bolt, safety is not just a feature, it’s fundamental to the service we provide. We are consistently investing in tools and partnerships that prioritise the well-being of our users. The Public Safety Summit represents a major step forward in how we engage with our riders. It will be a rider-first platform to listen, learn, and collaborate on new ways to make our services even safer and more responsive.”

    The forum brought together a diverse audience, including public safety experts, policymakers, and everyday platform users, to co-develop ideas and explore long-term strategies for ride-hailing security and accountability.

    It said the summit marked a new chapter in community-driven innovation, with a focus on transparency, safety education, and continuous dialogue with users. The initiative also aligned with its broader vision to elevate safety standards in Africa’s ride-hailing sector.

  • Bolt Drivers protest murder of member in Bayelsa

    Bolt Drivers protest murder of member in Bayelsa

    Following the gruesome murder of a Bolt driver, Emmanuel Eden, by unknown gunmen, scores of drivers have staged a protest demanding justice for their slain colleague.

    The Bolt drivers armed with placards with inscriptions such as “Stop harassing Bolt Drivers”, “Bolt drivers are bread winners of a family”, “we need better security”, No to brutality and killings “and” Gov. Diri come to our aid”, staged a protest march from Tombia Junction through major streets in the state capital.

    They appealed to the state government to take necessary action to bring justice to the victim.

    One of the protesters, Jolly Adomokeme, said they are on a peaceful march to protest against the gruesome killing of their member.

    According to Adokeme,”though police have been a friend, some bad eggs among them have displayed acts against civil members of the society. Police should do their work and stop harassing Bolt drivers and passengers.”

    Read Also: Nigeria on path of economic renewal, global respect – Idris

    Continuing, “The police should also stop unnecessary extortion of our passengers.”

    Another protester, Goodness Okure, said the protesters are out to call on the Nigerian Police and the Bayelsa State Government to investigate and arrest those behind the dastardly killing of their colleague.

    The Nation gathered that Emmanuel Eden left behind a young family with a wife and two kids.

    Recall that the bolt driver, Emmanuel Eden, was shot dead on the 29th of May,2025 at Samphino Junction in the Kpansia axis of Yenagoa, the state capital.

    The victim’s corpse was discovered in the morning inside his vehicle. Protesters including the wife of the victim during the march yesterday.

  • Bolt okays €100m for riders’ safety

    Bolt okays €100m for riders’ safety

    E-hailing platform Bolt has committed €100 million over the next three years to bolster safety measures on its platform. This investment will support The Bolt Safety Team in its critical work of product development, customer support, safety feature awareness, and preventative measures to minimise safety incidents. The announcement was made during a global safety campaign launch event held in Lagos recently.

    Consequently, new trip verification features will join Bolt’s suite of safety tools in the coming months to help address the critical role of mutual trust between driver partners and riders in the safety of the platform, including trip count and unique four-digit trip pick-up codes to help match riders and driver partners.

    Bolt will also continue to scale its Rider Verification solution.

    Bolt will also continue to invest in upgrading existing features like Ride Check to proactively detect if a trip’s route unexpectedly changes or takes longer than expected to finish, and introduce Trusted Contacts to ensure Ride Check notifications are escalated to a friend or loved one if needed.

    Record Audio will continue to support The Bolt Safety Team’s safety investigations and has already been used to trigger in-app audio recordings to submit with Customer Support tickets across 14 markets including Nigeria since launch.

    The measures are expected to further enhance the Bolt Safety Team’s work in partnership with regulators, drivers, and police to raise awareness of safety issues through events such as Safety Summit.

    Read Also: Bolt driver makes u-turn, apologises to Abia Rep Ikwechegh

    General Manager at Bolt Nigeria, Osi Oguah, said: “We take our responsibility to ensure the safety of our platform very seriously. With €100 million committed over three years to safety, we recognise that this requires an end-to-end approach across our business in Nigeria. That’s why The Bolt Safety Team of over 500 specialists from across the world will focus their efforts on product development, support, and scaling preventative measures to stop safety cases before they happen in that time. We’ll also continue to raise awareness of our safety tools with educational campaigns like the current ‘Bolt Safety Team’ campaign running in Nigeria to raise awareness of the in-app features that we know can help prevent cases.”

    Lagos State Commissioner of Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, lauded Bold for its continued collaboration with Lagos State and its proactive approach to enhance safety.

    The event brought together key stakeholders, including the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, representatives from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), safety experts, Bolt representatives, and members of the media.

  • Abia lawmaker assaults bolt driver, threatens to make him disappear

    Abia lawmaker assaults bolt driver, threatens to make him disappear

    Member representing Aba North/Aba South federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, has been caught on a viral video assaulting a Bolt driver sent to deliver a parcel in his Abuja residence. 

    The first-time lawmaker elected on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) was also heard on the video threatening he can make the driver disappear in the whole of Nigeria and nothing will happen. 

    He told the driver he was a Senator of the Republic  threatenening to deal with the driver, after slapping him three times, saying he will not pay for the service for disrespecting him.

    As of the time of filing this report, he was yet to respond to a WhatsApp message The Nation sent to his mobile. The spokesman of the House was also yet to respond. 

    Below is a full transcript of the what transpired below the lawmaker and the driver:Hon. Alex: Do you know where you are? Do you know who I am? So, you think I will give you my money with the way you have spoken to me? 

    Driver: I did a job for you and you have to pay me. 

    Alex: You will not see a penny from me with this great level of disrespect. You are very stupid. Very very stupid (he makes a call and his heard talking to someone in phone). Madam, who is this stupid boy that you sent to this my house? Who is this foolish boy you sent to my house? How can this stupid idiot come to my house and say I am supposed to come and meet him in his car and collect the snails I am buying from you? 

    Can you imagine this rat? I can make this man disappear in the whole other Nigeria and nothing will happen. Can you imagine this rat? I am not going to give this boy one naira of my money. No, no, no. I am. Not going to give this silly boy one naira of my money 

    Driver: You have been insulting me and I have been quiet. 

    Alex: And I pray that you do. I pray that you insult me. Can you please insult me? I am not going to call my policemen to beat you up. I will beat you up myself to show you that I am a big brother to you. I will slap the hell out of you, beat you up and you lock you up in my generator room. How dare you? Do you know who you are talking to? Do you know where you are? Is it because you see me sitting out here? 

    Driver: Please sir, pay me and let me go. 

    Alex: Look at this monkey oooh. Are you looking at me and thinking that you can beat me? Who do hell you think you are talking to (he slaps the driver) ? Do you know who I am? I am a Senator of this Republic (another slap). Do you know who the fuck I am? How dare you?. 

    Driver: Are you slapping me sir? 

    Alex: (seen picking up his phone) You see, in this place, I will deal with you. 

    Driver: Are you slapping me sir? 

    Alex: I just did and I am coming back. How dare you? His dare you? Howe dare you? Do you know who I am? 

    Driver: Did you just slap me three times? 

    Alex: I just did twice and the third one, you will soon receive it. How dare you? Common get out of this place. 

    Driver: I need my payment. (Making a narration) This is where I am. I just got three slaps from this man because I told him to come. Get his stuff and pay me my money. He claims.. (Cuts in) 

    Alex: Tell them. My name is Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwecheg, a member of the House of Representatives. Tell them I slapped you. Call the Inspector General of Police. Call him, let him come here. Record me very well. You came to my house, you disrespect me. 

    Driver: I did not disrespect you. I said pay me my money and let me leave. 

    Another slap ended the short video

  • Bolt hosts women drivers safety forum

    Bolt hosts women drivers safety forum

    LEADING ride-hailing platform, Bolt, recently hosted a Women Drivers Safety Forum in Abuja to address safety concerns faced by female drivers and educate them on the safety features available on the app.

      The event brought together female drivers, safety experts and representatives from Bolt to discuss safety challenges and best practices for ensuring the well-being of women drivers on the platform.

    The forum featured presentations and discussions on a range of safety topics, including safety features on the Bolt app, strategies for handling challenging situations, self-defense awareness, reporting and support mechanisms. 

    Drivers were guided through the app’s safety features, such as the emergency button, driver verification, trip sharing, audio recording amongst others and encouraged to utilize these tools effectively.

    General Manager at Bolt Nigeria, Osi Oguah, said: “We recognise the unique challenges faced by women drivers and we are committed to working hand-in-hand with them to address these issues. 

    Read Also: Advancly, Bolt Nigeria team up to provide drivers with access to credit

    “This forum is not just about raising awareness, but also about taking concrete steps to enhance the safety and well-being of our female drivers. We are constantly striving to improve the safety of our platform for all users. 

    “This forum is an opportunity for us to listen to the concerns of our female drivers, learn from their experiences, and continue to enhance our safety features and support systems.”

     One of the female drivers, Zhilichat Joshua said: “This forum shows that Bolt cares about female drivers and our safety, and this event is refreshing to hear the experiences of other female drivers which helps to understand that some things are common and not peculiar issues to you as a person. I’m excited to be leaving this event today knowing more about the safety features available on the Bolt app, especially the audio recording feature”.

       Bolt reiterated its commitment to driver safety and announced plans to continue organising similar events in the future to further strengthen safety measures for female drivers on the platform. 

    Another female drivers’ forum holds in Owerri on Thursday, October 10.

  • Bolt axes 5000 drivers over safety issues

    Bolt axes 5000 drivers over safety issues

    Ride-hailing company, Bolt, said over the past six months, it has discontinued the services of more than 5,000 drivers from its platform due to non-compliance and safety related matters.

    The company which said it has spent over N20 million to bolster its safety features to enhance the safety of both its riders and drivers therefore warned that it shall no longer be business as usual as they risked being kicked out and barred from using the platform to offer services.

    Bolt Country Manager, Yahaya Mohammed, who spoke while unveiling the safety measures in Lagos at the weekend, restated the company’s commitment to safety.

    “At Bolt, the safety of all users on our platform is our top priority. We understand the trust our users place in us, and we are taking proactive steps to ensure their well-being during every ride. Our enhanced safety measures, stricter compliance measures, coupled with technology-driven solutions, reaffirm our commitment to providing a secure and reliable transportation experience for all,” he said.

    He said Bolt remained committed to continue providing top tier safety infrastructure within the transportation and mobility ecosystem, adding that it has continued to permanently block drivers and riders reported for any misconduct from accessing the platform. These operational changes, he added, are designed to amplify the safety features and trip experience of users on its platform.

    “Bolt continues to innovate and invest in implementing robust safety measures and features to identify and address critical issues promptly. This includes leveraging cutting-edge technology to monitor and evaluate user behaviour, ensuring swift action in response to any identified safety concerns. For example, Bolt introduced the driver selfie check feature that deters cases of driver impersonation and account sharing.

    “Another is the driver and Rider Awareness Programme. Bolt has a comprehensive awareness and training programme for riders and drivers alike. This initiative aims to raise awareness about safety best practices, emphasising the importance of respectful and responsible behaviour on the platform as well as highlighting the how-to of using the in-app safety features,” the company said.

    Read Also:  What Nigeria should be asking the world at COP 28

    Others include stricter compliance measures which have made the company to warn that any driver or rider found in violation of safety standards as well as being non-compliant will face swift and decisive consequences, including permanent suspension from the platform. These strict compliance measures have so far resulted in over 5000 drivers being denied access to the platform.

    “There are also the advanced reporting mechanisms designed to enhance reporting of safety incidents. Bolt has introduced enhanced reporting mechanisms that will empower users to report safety concerns more efficiently. Bolt has enhanced its safety features to facilitate improved detection and provide clear, user-friendly prompts for both riders and drivers. This enables easy in-app communication in case of any issues during a trip, ensuring prompt assistance. The company also has dedicated 24/7 Safety and Social Media Support available in-app. Bolt remains committed to investigating and resolving reported issues promptly, prioritising the safety and well-being of all users of its platform.

    “These initiatives signify Bolt’s ongoing commitment to safety and user satisfaction. The company is confident that these measures will contribute to creating a safer and more secure ride-hailing environment for both drivers and riders across Nigeria,” Mohammed said.

  • Bolt to expand nationwide, receives over $175m funding

    European on-demand transportation platform – Bolt has identified poor telecommunications infrastructure as one of the factors militating against the growth of urban transportation in Nigeria.

    Bolt Regional Manager, West Africa, Uche Okafor disclosed in Lagos recently.

    This is just as the company has received over $175 million funding from its investors.

    Its investors include: Daimler, Didi Chuxing, Korelya Capital and TransferWise.

    The acceptable level of funding puts  Bolt ahead of competitors including Uber put at $19 million ; Didi $20billion; Grab $7million Lyft $5 million and Ola $4million.

    According to Okafor, hitches arising from difficulties to connect with poor telecommunications network often affects payment processing between riders and drivers in Nigeria utilising the global urban transportation value chain.

    Okafor said the Estonian-born technology company formerly known as Taxify in the last five years of its existence plans to expand its operations in Nigeria beyond Lagos, Abuja, Ibada, Owerri and Benin City.

    He said more Nigerians are embracing urban transportation with brands like Bolts, which has since its inception served over 24 million customers in over 30 countries in Europe and Africa.

    Okafor said Bolt recently changed its brand identity to reflect the company’s broader vision of transportation that has already expanded from ride-hailing, with cars and motorbikes to scooter sharing.

    The Bolt Regional Manager said the company has entered into partnership with officials of Nigeria Police Force to handle identity management challenges affecting its drivers to boost the confidence of customers.

    He said Bolt has entered into agreement with Smile Communications, to facilitate high speed internet services for its drivers across its operational locations.

  • ‘Poor technology infrastructure affecting on- demand transportation in Nigeria’

    European on-demand transportation platform – Bolt has identified poor telecommunications infrastructure as one of the factors militating against the growth of urban transportation in Nigeria.

    Bolt Regional Manager, West Africa, Uche Okafor disclosed in Lagos on Monday.

    This is just as the company has received over $175 million funding from its investors.

    Its investors include: Daimler, Didi Chuxing, Korelya Capital and TransferWise.

    Bolt, formerly known as Taxify is the leading European transportation platform that focus on making urban travel easier, quicker and more reliable.

    The acceptable level of funding puts  Bolt ahead of competitors including Uber put at $19 million; Didi $ 20 billion; Grab $7 million Lyft $ 5 million and Ola $ 4 million.

    According to Okafor, hitches arising from difficulties to connect with poor telecommunications network often affects payment processing between riders and drivers in Nigeria utilizing the global urban transportation value chain.

    Okafor said the Estonian – born technology company; formerly known as Taxify in the last five years of its existence plans to expand its operations in Nigeria beyond Lagos; Abuja; Ibadan; Owerri and Benin City.

    He said more Nigerians are embracing urban transportation with brands like Bolts, which has since its inception served over 24 million customers in over 30 countries in Europe and Africa.

    Okafor said Bolt recently changed its brand identity to reflect the company’s broader vision of transportation that has already expanded from ride-hailing, with cars and motorbikes to scooter sharing.

    He spoke of plans by Bolt to expand to other Nigerian cities to meet the yawning gap in urban transportation Even as plans were afoot to venture into courier services and food vending.

    Okafor said the company besides grappling with challenges of poor technology infrastructure, hopes to venture into electric transportation as technology improves in the urban transportation value chain.

    He said the company is handling customer complaint associated with biometric of its drivers, whom he said go through thorough background checks before they are signed up into the platform.

    The Bolt Regional Manager said the company has entered into partnership with officials of Nigeria Police Force to handle identity management challenges affecting its drivers to boost the confidence of customers.

    He said the company has put some processes in place to deal with drivers who bypass its system to either hoodwink or deceive customers.

    Okafor said punitive measures have been designed by the company to take care of drivers who are not willing to comply with its regulations.

    He said Bolt was running a lean operational structure in Nigeria because of car supply requirements, which is key sustaining the demand from customers from some areas.

    He said Bolt has entered into agreement with Smile Communications, to facilitate high-speed internet services for its drivers across its operational locations.

    Okafor said:” Though Bolt is a few years in operations in Nigeria, as a player in the urban transportation value chain we are grappling with huge concerns including poor telecommunications network.

    “There infrastructure dearth in Nigeria. Our drivers need good telecommunications network to connect with their customers especially in the area of processing payment for transactions. This is why we have acquired Smile bundles as part of the technology boost needed for the business. Another challenge is that some areas have poor mapping, and our drivers find it hard to access such locations. If issues concerning poor telecommunications infrastructure is addressed , adequate mapping on the global positioning systems and higher internet penetration, the business could be better.”

    He said the company intends to increase growth for on-demand urban transportation from four per cent to 28 per cent by 2028.

    On the change of brand identity, Okafor said:” While we have made progress on our mission, we have started to outgrow parts of our brand, including the name. Given our ambition to solve transportation problems on an increasingly broader scale, we want the brand to reflect the company’s future rather than the past.”

  • Taxify: Service remains same, says customer support official

    A Customer Support official for Taxify/Bolt who preferred to remain anonymous said the company’s
    name change from Taxify to Bolt will not affect standard of service.

    The official said this on Friday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    Taxify, an Estonian digital transport company serves 25 million customers in over 30 countries globally and recently changed its name to Bolt.

    The customer support official said that Taxify started as a taxi dispatch platform but advanced to a name that could represent fast and reliable mobility in a wider range.

    He said `Bolt is our platform’s new name. Nothing will change for passengers or drivers using the platform.

    “All the features will remain same. Taxify started as a taxi dispatch platform, hence the name.

    “Today, we are a transportation platform that provides ride-hailing, as well as scooter sharing.

    “With new products on the platform, we wanted a name that stands for quick and reliable mobility in a wider context.

    Read Also: Taxify rebrands to Bolt

    “Bolt represents dynamic, fast, electrifying movement and in that sense represents our company’s vision perfectly.”

    Mr Markus Villig, the Chief Executive Officer and co-Founder of Bolt, during the official announcement, said that the company’s logo would change from Thursday.

    Villig said “while we’ve made progress on our mission, we’ve also started to outgrow parts of our brand, including the name.

    “Given our ambition to solve transportation problems on an increasingly broader scale, we want the brand to reflect the company’s future, rather than the past.

    “Our new name Bolt stands for fast, effortless movement, which is the experience of getting around in a city should be, be it by car, scooter or public transport.”

    The company was the first to bring ride-hailing and scooter sharing in one single app and is currently working on expanding its sharing services across a number of cities.

    The company official,however, said the new brand would be gradually rolled out across Bolt’s global markets in the coming weeks.

    “Bolt users will not need to take any action as the app will update automatically.”

    NAN

  • Taxify rebrands to Bolt

     

    The ride-hailing service from Estonia, Taxify, has changed its name to Bolt, in a move it said would reflect its global expansion strategy to include providing multiple transportation options beyond private cars.

    It has been using the name Bolt for its new electric scooter service

    Its Co-founder and Chief Executive, Markus Villig, said Bolt represents the company’s goal of solving urban transportation problems beyond sharing taxis to motorbikes and scooter sharing.

    Villig said: “The rebrand from Taxify to Bolt is serving a few purposes. Tapping the basic meanings of bolt, the new name implies speed, as well as electricity.

    “We are bullish that the future is fully electric and so we wanted a name that moved us away from the combustion engine.”

    On its Twitter handle, it also wrote:  “With our entry into Nigeria over 2 years ago, we had one goal – build the best way to move in all the cities we operate.

    “We have grown in leaps and bounds over the years and are now aiming to solve transportation needs on a broader scale.

    “Because of this, we are rebranding to take on a new name, one which encompasses our future. Our new name Bolt, stands for fast, effortless movement- exactly what you deserve.”

    While the new brand will be gradually rolled out across Bolt’s global markets over the following weeks, users have been advised against taking any action as the app will update automatically.

    Since its inception, the tech ride-hailing teach firm has evolved to now serve 25 million customers in over 30 countries and 100 cities globally, growing to be a leader in Europe and Africa.

    It is also believed that it was the first company to bring ride-hailing and scooter sharing together in one single app.

    The Lagos State government, Nigeria’s commercial city where it operates, said the firm has registered with it. Its Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Taiwo Salami, confirmed this while fielding question on Traffic Radio, early this week.