Bolt, the popular ride-hailing service, has reported significant financial losses following a prank war between Nigerian and South African users that has disrupted services in both countries. The prank emerged amidst an ongoing rivalry between the two nations and led Bolt to restrict inter-country ride requests, resulting in blocked users and service disruptions.
Yahaya Mohammed, the Country Manager of Bolt, revealed that the company has launched an investigation to assess the extent of the financial losses incurred. Mohammed stated that Bolt might enforce stricter measures, including further restrictions on app access for users in both Nigeria and South Africa. He also hinted at possible compensation for drivers who suffered losses due to the prank.
“What we did was to block the high volume of orders coming from both Nigeria and South Africa,” Mohammed explained. “We are currently analyzing the rides booked and the kilometers wasted by drivers to determine whether compensation is warranted.”
Femi Adeyemo, the Communication Manager of Bolt, also acknowledged the financial impact of the prank, emphasizing the company’s commitment to minimizing disruptions and maintaining service quality across all markets.
The prank reportedly began when a South African man used the Bolt app to book a ride in Nigeria, only to cancel it as the driver neared the pick-up location. This triggered a series of retaliatory pranks from both sides, with Nigerians ordering and canceling multiple rides in South Africa.
The situation has further strained the already complex relationship between Nigeria and South Africa, with social media users from both countries engaging in a heated exchange. The prank has not only wasted fuel and time for drivers but also highlighted the ease with which social media can escalate tensions between nations.
As Bolt continues to assess the fallout from this incident, the company is expected to communicate further steps to both drivers and users in the coming days.
