Bolt has recorded a 92% week-on-week increase in driver registrations in Nigeria following Uber’s exit from the country, as drivers seek alternative platforms to continue operating in the ride-hailing market.
The Estonian mobility company disclosed the increase in an email to PUNCH Online on Wednesday, nearly two weeks after Uber ended its Nigerian operations on September 2, 2026.
Bolt Senior General Manager for West Africa, Teddy Appa-Dankyi, said the company had seen a significant increase in interest from drivers seeking to join its platform.
“Bolt has recorded a 92% week-on-week increase in driver registrations following Uber’s exit from the Nigerian market,” Appa-Dankyi said.
However, Bolt did not disclose the actual number of drivers who registered before and after Uber’s departure.
Fallout From Uber Nigeria Exit
The surge comes as Nigeria’s ride-hailing industry adjusts to the departure of Uber, which had operated in the country for about 12 years. Its exit has left drivers and passengers looking for alternatives amid rising fuel prices, vehicle maintenance expenses and other operating costs affecting the sector.
For Bolt, the development could expand its available driver pool as some drivers previously operating on Uber explore other platforms.
Appa-Dankyi said the company was encouraged by the increased interest but stressed that the expansion of its driver network would not lead to a relaxation of its safety requirements.
“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.
Bolt said prospective drivers would continue to undergo its existing onboarding and safety checks.
The company also said drivers previously suspended or blocked because of serious safety violations, misconduct or other breaches would not automatically regain access to its platform following the increase in registrations.
“Every driver who joins Bolt must meet our onboarding and safety requirements, and those standards remain unchanged,” Appa-Dankyi said. Bolt has operated in Nigeria since 2016 and is one of the country’s major ride-hailing platforms.
