Bolt has recorded a 92 per cent week-on-week increase in driver registrations in Nigeria following the exit of rival ride-hailing company Uber from the Nigerian market.
The development comes as drivers seek alternative platforms to sustain their livelihoods after Uber discontinued its Nigerian operations on September 2, ending about 12 years of business in the country.
Bolt, which began operations in Nigeria in 2016, disclosed the surge in an email on Wednesday.
However, the company did not reveal the actual number of drivers registered during the periods compared, leaving the size of the increase in absolute terms unclear.
Senior General Manager, Bolt West Africa, Teddy Appa-Dankyi, attributed the development to increased interest among drivers following Uber's departure.
“Bolt has recorded a 92 per cent week-on-week increase in driver registrations following Uber’s exit from the Nigerian market,” he said.
Appa-Dankyi said the increased influx of prospective drivers would not lead the company to compromise its safety standards.
“We are encouraged by the strong increase in interest from drivers looking to join Bolt. It shows drivers’ confidence in our platform and the opportunities we provide. However, growth cannot come at the expense of safety,” he said.
According to the company, prospective drivers will continue to undergo its existing onboarding process and safety checks before being admitted to the platform.
Bolt also stated that drivers previously suspended or blocked over serious safety violations, misconduct or other breaches would not automatically regain access to its platform.
“Every driver who joins Bolt must meet our onboarding and safety requirements, and those standards remain unchanged,” Appa-Dankyi said.
Uber's departure has left competitors to compete for a larger share of Nigeria's ride-hailing market, while drivers and passengers adjust to the reduced number of major international platforms operating in the sector.
The industry continues to face pressure from high fuel costs, vehicle maintenance expenses and other operational challenges, which have affected the economics of ride-hailing for drivers and operators.
For Bolt, the increased registration of drivers presents an opportunity to expand its network and respond to demand from passengers seeking alternatives following Uber's exit.
The company said it would continue investing in its platform and driver community as the Nigerian mobility market evolves.
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