NIGERIA – Estonian based and one of the largest ride-hailing platform, Bolt, has extended its operations into two more Nigerian cities, Abeokuta and Enugu, in a bid to bring convenient and reliable transportation services closer to more Nigerians.
Bolt’s Regional Manager for West Africa, Uche Okafor, noted that demand for ride-hailing services had been growing across Nigeria as public transport was still unreliable and the costs of car ownership had soared.
A statement by the firm explained that with the expansion into Abeokuta and Enugu, Bolt’s network within Nigeria had increased to 11.
The firm revealed that it started operating in Nigeria in 2016 in Lagos. The launch of Enugu and Abeokuta operations signifies that the company will have a presence in eleven Nigerian cities – Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Owerri, Benin, Uyo, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu and Abeokuta.
“Ride-hailing services like Bolt make it possible for more people to enjoy the convenience and safety of getting from one place to another, without the costs of car ownership or the inconvenience of public transport,” Okafor said.
According to him, the transportation app has been successful in every city where it has launched since it commenced operations in Nigeria in 2016, making the firm to grow exponentially year on year.
He noted that Bolt had facilitated entrepreneurship opportunities for Nigerians who would otherwise have been included in the country’s unemployment statistics.
Thanks to Bolt, Okafor noted that thousands of drivers were now able to start their own businesses using the Bolt platform, earning an income and supporting their families while at the same time working on a flexible schedule.
“The ride-hailing sector has stimulated unprecedented innovation, growth and job creation in a new industry that is just four years old in Nigeria,” he said.
Okafor noted that Bolt remained committed to the Nigerian market and that it would grow its footprints to more towns and cities across the country, making it possible for more people to benefit from ride-hailing services, either riders seeking cost-effective convenience or drivers seeking business opportunities.
