Bolt drivers in Nigeria are becoming increasingly wary of offline trips, and the platform’s recent crackdown on the practice may explain why.
Keytakeaways
- Bolt has recorded a 42% drop in offline Bolt trips in Nigeria since stricter safety enforcement began.
- The app has new features like trip recording, emergency buttons, and PIN verification that are reshaping rider behaviour.
- Rising costs and fixed commissions are pushing drivers toward protests, lawsuits, and multi-platform use.
- Bolt hasn’t disclosed user activity stats since the crackdown, leaving questions about long-term business effects.
Since late 2024, Bolt has cut offline rides by 42% through a blend of real-time monitoring, algorithmic penalties, and safety-first messaging. Drivers who try to shift trips off the Bolt app to collect cash and avoid paying commission now risk having their accounts suspended or their earnings reduced.
The company also introduced new safety features such as trip recording, emergency alerts, pickup PINs, and a “Trusted Contacts” system, which saw a 290% usage spike.
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The “Trusted Contacts” feature allows the app to notify designated family or friends if a trip goes south. Also, the company said more than 5,000 users have adopted the Pickup PIN system, which requires drivers and passengers to verify a numeric code before starting a ride to prevent wrong pickups or impersonation fraud.
“If you’re not transacting within the app, you’re exposing yourself to danger,” says Osi Oguah, Bolt Nigeria’s General Manager. “We’ve seen what happens when rides go [offline]. This isn’t just about business, it’s about keeping people safe.”
While riders are complying, drivers are pushing back. Many say Bolt’s fixed commission rates don’t reflect fuel and maintenance costs. Some now use multiple platforms (multi-homing) to stay afloat. Others have staged protests and are seeking legal redress.
Bolt’s clampdown improves rider safety, but long-term success may depend on whether drivers stay on the platform or leave for less regulated alternatives.
