Technology ride-hailing company Bolt has announced the restriction of inter-country ride requests following a surge in fake ride orders between users in Nigeria and South Africa. The company has also blocked several accounts involved in these fraudulent activities.
The decision comes in response to an online dispute that escalated early Thursday, where Nigerians and South Africans engaged in a digital supremacy battle by ordering and then canceling rides across borders. The conflict began when South Africans allegedly started booking rides in Nigeria via Bolt and Uber, only to cancel them once drivers arrived at the pick-up locations. Nigerians retaliated by booking rides in South Africa in a show of numbers.
Reacting to the situation, Bolt’s Country Manager for Nigeria, Yahaya Mohammed, stated that the company had implemented enhanced security measures to address the issue. He emphasized that the integrity and safety of the platform for both drivers and riders remain Bolt’s top priority.
“Bolt is aware of the fake ride request incident between some individuals in Nigeria and South Africa,” Mohammed said in a statement. “We have successfully taken measures to resolve the issue of fake ride requests affecting our driver-partners, particularly those operating in Nigeria and South Africa. Following a thorough investigation, we have restricted inter-country ride requests and blocked those responsible for this malicious activity from the Bolt app.”
Mohammed expressed gratitude to Bolt’s driver-partners for their patience and professionalism during the incident, reiterating the company’s commitment to providing a safe and reliable service.
“We understand the impact this situation has had on our driver-partners in Nigeria and South Africa,” he said. “We are committed to ensuring a safe, reliable, and secure experience for all members of our community. We thank our driver-partners for their patience and professionalism during this time and remain dedicated to supporting them in every possible way.”
