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Tag: Taxify

  • Tax expert urges FG to review VAT law

    A tax expert, Taiwo Oyedele, has urged the Federal Government to review its Value Added Tax (VAT) law and better policing of its borders to improve its VAT collections.

    Oyedele, Head of Tax and Corporate Advisory Services, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), West Africa, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

    He said the government could shore up its revenue through a review of VAT waivers and come up with a framework for VAT on imported services and digital transactions.

    “At the moment, we have a lot of issues with Nigerian VAT law because most times policymakers talk about the rate alone without saying anything about the rest of the law.

    `For instance, the country loses lot of revenue from the importation of a lawyer from Ghana who pays nothing for services rendered in Nigeria because he pays no VAT for such services whereas his Nigerian counterpart does.

    “The implication is that it makes the country’s lawyer less competitive because there is no legal provision in the VAT law that imposes five per cent VAT on such imported services.

    “The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has seen this loophole and it is trying to block the leakage through the back door by issuing circulars to that effect.

    “The truth is that you cannot use circulars to impose tax, it has to be by law, so the government needs to amend the law to block this leakage and others,” he said.

    Oyedele said that the government should also have a regulatory framework for generating revenue from digital transactions.

    NAN reports that digital economy (transaction) is the worldwide network of economic activities, commercial transactions and professional interactions that are enabled by Information and Communications Technologies (ICT).

    He said that though some of the digital transactions operators such as Uber, Bolt (Taxify), office sharing and even technology platform providers like Facebook, Google, online stores and blogs pay VAT, the taxes were not backed by law.

    According to him, people place adverts on these platforms.

    “The government should explore these opportunities and back it up with law to ensure that not just few people pay taxes but all operators,” he said.

    He said South Africa had just released a regulation on its digital economy, adding that Nigeria should follow suit.

    Besides, Oyedele noted that four per cent cost of VAT collection by FIRS was too high by global benchmark standards, while 15 per cent allocation of VAT to Federal Government was no longer justified.

    “VAT law was introduced in 1993 and took effect in 1994; all over the world, including Nigeria, consumption tax is usually a state and local government tax.

    “But along the line, it was discovered that some states do not have capacity to collect the tax and agreed that the Federal Government should collect the tax on behalf of states.

    “That is why the Federal Government gets 15 per cent as cost of administering it while states get 85 per cent.

    “Technically for VAT, Federal Government gets 15 per cent and FIRS gets 4 per cent bringing total accrued to the Federal Government to 19 per cent.

    “Globally, the standard benchmark for collecting tax is one per cent, even many tax authorities in some countries collect less than one per cent,” he said.

    He added that should Federal Government take lesser percentage it would free funds for states to meet their financial obligations and become more financially stable.

  • Court remands man for Taxify driver’s death

    An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos Thursday remanded in prison custody, Ikechukwu Ozurumba, charged with killing a Taxify taxi driver.

    Magistrate O. O. Oshin made the order following Ozurumba’s arraignment by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Adeniji-Adele, Lagos.

    Ozurumba, 29, was charged alongside Chima Chukwuemeka, 34, on a five-count charge of murder, theft and accessory after the fact.

    They were also accused of stealing the taxi driver’s Toyota Camry car valued at N1.5 million.

    Prosecuting counsel, Mr. A. O. Fadipe, alleged that the duo committed the offences on December 26, 2018, at about 6:15pm at Festac and Okokomaiko areas of Lagos.

    He said first defendant Ozurumba conspired with one Kelechi (a.k.a Sunshine) still at large, and killed Taxify driver, Olufemi Ebenezer.

    They allegedly hit Ebenezer, who hailed from Akoko in Ondo State, with some tools, resulting in his death.

    Fadipe said after killing Ebenezer, Ozurumba dumped his body on Jimoh Street, Okokomaiko, Lagos.

    According to the prosecutor, the defendant also made away with the victim’s car marked SMK-980 FM.

    He said second defendant, Chukwuemeka, “with the knowledge that the first defendant committed an offence, gave him shelter to prevent his arrest by the police.”

    The court heard that the offences contravened Sections 1(2) (b) and 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    They also offended Section 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Ozurumba’s plea was not taken, because the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the charge.

    But Chukwuemeka pleaded not guilty to the charge of accessory after the fact.

    The defendants’ counsel, Mr. Francis Agaoro prayed the court to admit Chukwuemeka to bail, because the charge “is a bail able offence.”

    But Fadipe opposed him and prayed the court to remand both defendants.

    He said Chukwuemeka was charged under the Robbery and Firearms Act which falls under the jurisdiction of the high court.

    In a bench ruling, Magistrate Oshin granted both applications in part.

    She remanded Ozurumba, pending the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP’s) advice and granted Chukwuemeka N250, 000 bail.

    The case continues on May 28.

  • Police arrest man for allegedly strangling Taxify driver

    The Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS) at Adeniji Adele, Lagos has arrested a man, Ikechukwu Ozorumba, who allegedly strangled a Taxify driver to death and stole his car.

    Ozorumba, 29, of 16, Yaro Street, Okokomaiko, Lagos, and his accomplice simply identified as Nkelechi, alias Sunshine, who is on the run, allegedly killed Ebenezer Olotu last December 26.

    The police alleged that Ozorumba, from Ubolu-Uku in Delta State, boarded Olotu’s Toyota Camry Taxify car on Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, at about 11pm.

    When they got to Okokomaiko at about 12am, they attacked Olotu, strangled him and dumped his body at Jimoh Street in Okokomaiko, before making off with the car with number plate, SMK 980 FM.

    The Nation learnt that Olotu was from Akoko in Ondo State.

    FSARS also arrested a palm oil farmer in Oguta, Imo State, Chima Chukwuemeka, in connection with the crime.

    Chukwuemeka, 38, from Amaraku in Isiala Mbano, Imo State, was accused of harbouring Ozorumba in his farm to evade Police arrest.

    The police said Olotu’s family petitioned the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of FSARS, Lagos Island, Mr. Kola Okunola, that the deceased left home for work on December, 26, 2018 and never returned, which investigation commenced.

    A police source told The Nation that a FSARS team obtained Ozorumba’s phone number from Olotu’s phone and used it to track him to his hideout on Chukwuemeka’s farm in Oguta, where both men were arrested and the car recovered.

    Narrating how the alleged incident occurred, Ozorumba said: “On 26 December, 2018, we chartered the driver as passengers from Bode Thomas in Surulere area of Lagos and told him to take us to Okokomaiko area of Lagos.

    READ ALSO: Sad end of Taxify driver

    “On our way, we ordered the driver to surrender his car key to us, but he refused and started struggling with us. In the process, we used an iron rod to hit him, strangled him and dumped his body at Jimoh Street, Okokomaiko. We then drove the car straight to Imo State to look for a buyer.”

    He said when he got home; his wife asked him why he had blood stains on his body and an injury on his finger.

    Ozorumba said: “I told my wife that I was involved in a fight at a club, where I sustained the injury and the blood stains on my clothes, so she didn’t suspect anything.

    “We never meant to kill him,” he added.

    But Chukwuemeka denied complicity in the alleged offence. He said Ozorumba never told him he killed anyone and stole his car.

    “If I had known that Ikechukwu  allegedly robbed  a driver of his car and killed him, I would not have harbored him in my farm till the Police came to Imo State  from Lagos to  arrest me of what I know nothing about,” he stated.

    According to him, his mother phoned him some days before his arrest, to tell him that she dreamed he was arrested by the police.

  • Taxify is now called Bolt

    Taxify, the leading European on-demand transportation platform, is changing its name to Bolt and introducing a new logo. The update brings the brand identity in line with the company’s broader vision of transportation that has already expanded from ride-hailing, with cars and motorbikes, to scooter sharing.

    Speaking on why the company chose to make the change, Markus Villig, CEO and co-founder, Bolt said: “Taxify launched five years ago with a mission to make urban transportation more convenient and affordable. Our first product was a taxi dispatch solution that gave the company its original name.”

    The Estonian-born tech company has evolved in leaps and bounds since its inception to now serve 25 million customers in over 30 countries globally, making it a leader in Europe and Africa. It was also the first company to bring ride-hailing and scooter sharing together in one single app and is currently working on expanding the scooter sharing service across a number of European cities.

    “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 – exactly what the experience of getting around in a city should be, be it by car, scooter or public transport. It also underscores our belief that the future of transportation will be electric”, Regional Manager for West Africa at Bolt, Uche Okafor, explained.

    The new brand will be gradually rolled out across Bolt’s global markets over the following weeks. Bolt users will not need to take any action as the app will update automatically.

  • 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.

  • Taxify: robbers killed our driver

    Taxify, the urban technology driver taxi firm, yesterday cleared the air over the January 7 robbery in which one of its drivers was killed and two passenger injured.

    The driver, Olumide Salami, it said, was not killed by the passengers.

    In a January 10 petition, Taxify urged the Lagos State Police Command to investigate the incident and bring the culprits to justice.

    The petition signed by its lawyers,  reads: “The driver (Salami) on January 7, accepted the request for a ride by Mr. Ikenna Nwanze in company of his friend. The ride began from 6, Kayode Otitoju Street, Lagos, and was to end at Abiola Ojo Close 1, Lagos.

    “Our client (Taxify) received a report that the driver and riders (passengers) on the trip were involved in a robbery attack along Eko Bridge on January 7 at about 8pm. The rider (the passenger), who lodged the complaint, explained that unidentified armed hoodlums robbed them in the course of their ride and while they made attempts to get into the vehicle, resisted (the robbers) by winding up the glasses of the vehicle.

    “The hoodlums were obviously irked by the resistance and fired shots at the driver; the rider sustained injuries from the shots fired at the driver.”

    The injured passengers, the petition said, reported the incident at the Iponri Police Division two days later.

    “The rider further informed our client that he and his friend fled the scene after witnessing the robbery, and the robbers ran after them, causing them to sustain minor injuries. The robbers overran them during the chase and dispossessed them of their valuables and thereafter let them go,” the petition said, adding: “The riders immediately went to receive medical treatment for the injuries (they) sustained and afterwards proceeded to the Iponri Police Station on January 9 to lodge a complaint after unsuccessful attempts at reaching the driver to know his state of health. At Iponri Police Station, the riders were informed that the driver had passed on as a result of gunshot wound inflicted on him by the robbers. The wife of the driver, when contacted, informed our client that her husband was buried on January 9.

    “It is clear from the above stated facts that Mr. Salami Ibrahim Olumide died from the wound sustained from the gunshots fired at him by the robbers, establishing a case of armed robbery, contrary to sections 220 and 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 and contrary to sections 1 and 2 of Robbery and Firearms (special provisions) Act Cap. 398 LFN 1990.”

  • Taxify saves cost for travelers, launches in Ibadan, Owerri

    Taxify launched operations simultaneously in Ibadan and Owerri, becoming the first top-tier e-hailing service to expand beyond Lagos and Abuja and connect passengers with drivers in these cities.

    An e-hailing service like Taxify is simply a cellphone-based transportation app that lets passengers easily, quickly and cost-effectively request for a driver to pick them up almost instantly wherever they are, to take them wherever they want to go.

    Taxify has launched in Ibadan and Owerri in response to requests from passengers and drivers, becoming the third and fourth cities in Nigeria that Taxify operates in, in addition to Lagos and Abuja.

    “After our successful launches in Nigeria’s main centers, expanding to the cities of Ibadan and Owerri is a natural next step for Taxify,” says Uche Okafor, Taxify’s Country Manager for Nigeria. “We’re looking forward to introducing these cities to safe, reliable and affordable ride-hailing services on demand, and introducing flexible employment opportunities to thousands of drivers and vehicle owners in both cities.”

    It’s easy to use: passengers simply download the secure and free Taxify app from the iOS or Android app stores and set up a user profile.

    When they’re ready to ride, users open the app, set their location and their intended destination. The app will then give a cost estimate for the trip. Once passengers request the ride, the app alerts drivers nearby who accept the ride.

    Once a driver has accepted the ride, passengers will be able to see their driver’s name, photo, car make and model, and registration, as well as be able to track the driver making his or her way towards them in real time – all of which makes it easy to be sure that they get safely into the correct vehicle with the correct driver. Passengers can also share their trip details using the “Share your ETA” function on the app, as an extra layer of security.

    When the ride is complete, payment is made with cash, or via the debit card details the rider entered into the app.

    Popular trips in and around Ibadan such as UI to Palms Mall, Ring Road will cost between N1400 – N2100, Akobo to Ventura Mall Samonda will cost between N1000 – N1300 and Samondato Cocoa Mall, Dugbe will cost between N700 – N900. In Owerri, Airport to Concorde/World bank will cost between N4000 to N5000, FUTO/Nekede to IMSU/Ikenegbu will cost between N2000– N2500 while Ikenegbu/Wetheral to Egbu/Owerri Mall will cost between N600 – N900.

    Passengers and drivers can rate each other out of five stars and leave any comments using the Taxify app.

    Before Taxify launched in Ibadan and Owerri, customers wanting to use a driver service had to stand on the road, call a taxi and negotiate pricing with them.  Passengers would not be able to share their travel details with friends and loved ones or contact the driver in case of forgotten items in vehicles.

    To celebrate Taxify’s launch in both cities, Taxify will be offering a 20 per cent discount on all fares for the month of October 2018, and passengers can enjoy a free first ride with the promo codes HELLOIBADAN and HIOWERRI when they apply the promo codes using their debit cards.

    Taxify has already signed drivers up to the platform in both cities, who all receive 85% of all fares paid by passengers – a significantly higher percentage than what drivers using other similar platforms receive. What’s more, drivers using the platform are their own boss, as they can choose how many hours they drive, there are no monthly dues, and they can work in whichever areas they want to.

    Drivers’ cars must be a 2003 vehicle model or newer. The car has to be four-door (Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, etc) and must have passed a safety inspection. This means that everyone hailing a ride through Taxify can be confident that they will get to their destination safely and comfortably.

    Taxify has been hugely successful in every city where it has launched since commencing operations in Nigeria in 2016. Launching in Ibadan and Owerri are particularly exciting for Taxify, because everyone in these cities can now call cost-effective, quick, reliable and convenient rides from wherever they are to wherever they want to be.

  • Uber, Taxify: Jostle for drivers intensifies

    Uber, Taxify: Jostle for drivers intensifies

    The liberalisation of the telecoms sector has destroyed fetters to communication with access to mobile phones. It has promoted e-hailing, e-health and many others. OLUFEMI BABALOGBON writes about the competition in the e-hailing subsector.

    Taxify has enjoyed some competitive edge in terms of soaring number of drivers since the beginning of this year. It is offering drivers 85 per cent of the cab fare, while receiving 15 per cent. This convinced Uber drivers to download Taxify’s app and register. Taxify turned out to be a threat to Uber, which offered drivers only 75 per cent of the sales.

    For Wale, an Uber driver, “Uber has got the brand; Taxify has got the drivers.” However, early this month, Uber turned around the situation when it offered drivers 100 per cent of the sales. Taxify could not but do the same not later than 24 hours after Uber’s strategic decision. Drivers are becoming the key stakeholders, after government, and with increasing bargaining power.

    Uber’s leadership is being challenged seriously by Taxify. Riders said they could find more available Taxify drivers within their locations than Uber drivers. The drivers are moving to Taxify to enjoy more incentives and share in the gains of competitiveness. Uber drivers had complained of low income. Findings showed that most of these cab drivers do not own the cars; they deliver a fixed amount to their car-owners (partner) on a weekly basis.

    A Taxify driver, Akeem, said he makes N80,000 weekly and delivers N40,000 to his partner (car owner). His cost of fuel is N30,000. He ends up making only N10,000. This is the reason drivers keep pushing for more margins.

    However, after two weeks of giving the drivers 100 per cent of the fare, Uber has reverted to the initial arrangement of offering drivers 75 per cent. Taxify, hell-bent in challenging the leadership of Uber, has continued giving its drivers 100 per cent of the fare.

    Akeem, said: “This has led to an influx of more Uber drivers into Taxify and the consequence is less patronage because more drivers now share the Taxify pie. In response to this, Uber is offering drivers “boost locations”, where the app charged premium fare and the drivers can make more.”

    This is the time superior value of Uber plays a role in competitiveness.Uber drivers get incentives for staying online even when they are not working. This makes it easier for Uber users to find a nearby driver within the estimated time of arrival.

    “The features of Uber’s app are more and more valuable,”  Wale, who was blocked by Uber last week for using a cheat app to inflate the fares, said.

    Cab drivers hope “the Taxify incentive would continue forever”. However, this is more about two rivals, who chose to take competition to crescendo during this peak season. If this continues for a while, competition will evolve to be more about value creation and value delivery.

    Uber will realise it has taken a wrong decision by compromising its unique service proposition (USP), lowering the standard of its cars from made-in-2007 specs to made-in-2000 specs. Uber would realise the need to train the drivers and be proactive about the re-occurring reports about drivers’ rudeness.

    Taxify would improve its app to give unique experience to drivers and riders. For now, the competition is about keeping the drivers. And money is the only language understood by these drivers.

     

  • Taxify launches in Abuja

    Taxify, the fastest-growing ride-sharing platform in Europe and Africa is in Abuja to offer quality and safe service to its clients, with hundreds of drivers signing up to the platform to partner.

    Uche Okafor, Taxify’s Operations Manager in a statement said “Abuja is an exciting and thriving market with an outgoing population for private urban transport. We have a solid team on ground in Abuja and are excited about the launch.

    “We are confident that Taxify can effectively contribute to healthy competition by improving the quality of service and lowering the prices for the end customer.

    “Taxify takes only 15% commission from its drivers, compared to the 25% that competitors take. The lower commission allows Taxify to offer lower prices for riders and ensure that drivers still keep more money in their pockets.

    “Taxify treats our drivers better so that they can in turn treat our clients well. We ensure drivers earn more driving on our platform than on any other platform. This combined with our end to end support ensures that our drivers are happier driving on Taxify and are ultimately able to provide better quality service for clients. Taxify also believes in providing exemplary customer service to riders, with a local customer support team that offers real time over the phone support.”

    Taxify is an international urban ride-sharing platform founded and headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia. It is operates in 20 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Central America. Taxify has a global team of over 300 employees, and is considered one of the fastest-growing ride-sharing platforms in Europe and Africa. In August 2017, Taxify announced a strategic partnership with Didi Chuxing, the world’s leading mobile transportation platform.