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Ride-hailing company Bolt has blocked several accounts involved in requesting and canceling fake rides, following an online dispute between Nigerians and South Africans that escalated into a supremacy battle on Thursday.
The online confrontation saw citizens from both countries ordering e-hailing rides in each other’s territories, only to cancel them once drivers arrived at the pick-up locations. The trend reportedly began with South Africans initiating the prank, which Nigerians quickly reciprocated, resulting in disruptions for drivers in both countries.
In response to the situation, Bolt’s Country Manager for Nigeria, Yahaya Mohammed, issued a statement on Thursday, confirming that the company had taken swift action to address the issue. He revealed that Bolt had restricted inter-country ride requests between Nigeria and South Africa to prevent further incidents and blocked the accounts of individuals involved in the malicious activity.
“Bolt is aware of the fake ride request incident between some individuals in Nigeria and South Africa,” Mohammed stated. “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. The integrity and safety of our platform, both for driver-partners and riders, is our utmost priority.”
The statement emphasized that Bolt had conducted a thorough investigation and implemented enhanced security measures to protect its driver-partners. Mohammed also expressed gratitude to the drivers for their patience and professionalism during the disruption, assuring them of the company’s commitment to maintaining a safe and reliable platform.
“We understand the impact this situation has had on our driver-partners in Nigeria and South Africa. We are committed to ensuring a safe, reliable, and secure experience for all members of our community,” he added.
