By Emmanuel Ogbodo
Bolt, one of Nigeria’s leading ride-hailing platforms, appears to have quietly switched to a fixed pricing model, mirroring inDrive’s approach.
This shift means fares remain unchanged from the moment a ride is booked, regardless of detours or delays.
Drivers have noted the transition, with many expressing frustration.
“Bolt riders don’t ask for the price at the end of trips anymore. They just pay what they saw when booking,” said
Willie, a Bolt driver. Another driver, Osemhen, described the move as “shocking,” noting that Bolt made the change without notifying drivers.
While some drivers report occasional fare adjustments for unexpected route changes, others say the pricing remains rigid.
Jude, for instance, recounted a trip where a rider took him beyond the app’s designated destination, yet the fare remained unchanged at ₦22,300.
Fortunately, the passenger voluntarily added ₦1,000 to compensate for the extra distance.
Many drivers argue that fixed fares fail to account for traffic delays or extended trips, leading some to demand additional payments directly from riders.
“If you want to make a stop along the way, you’ll have to add money,” one driver explained.
Others now negotiate fares upfront before picking up passengers to avoid losses.
With fuel prices soaring, e-hailing drivers across Nigeria are adopting unconventional cost-saving measures.
In cities like Calabar and Uyo, drivers often negotiate fares offline and turn off air conditioning to conserve fuel.
Some passengers claim they are asked to pay extra if they want the AC on.
This growing tension between drivers and riders has led to disputes. In one case, a Lagos-based inDrive driver was removed from the platform after demanding additional payment for using AC.
Addressing the issue, inDrive Africa’s PR Manager, Lineo Thakhisi, reiterated the company’s zero-tolerance policy for unethical behavior, stating: “Demanding additional fees beyond the agreed fare is unacceptable. We have taken decisive action, including removing the driver from our platform and reaching out to the passenger for support.”
As the e-hailing landscape shifts, Bolt’s new pricing model signals a potential industry-wide trend, forcing both drivers and passengers to adapt to changing economic realities.
