Bolt Discharges 5,000 Nigerian Drivers In 6 Months

Ride-hailing company, Bolt has discontinued the services of more than 5,000 drivers from its platform due to non-compliance and safety related matters, in the past six months.

This is even as the company has dedicated over N20 million to bolster its safety features, as an effort to enhance safety of its customers.

Country manager, Yahaya Mohammed, at a media parley, to launch Bolt Safety Campaign, in Lagos, assured that Bolt remains committed to continue providing top tier safety infrastructure within the transportation and mobility ecosystem.

Speaking on initiatives by Bolt to enhance quality and safety on its platform, the country manager averred that Bolt is leveraging on cutting-edge technology to monitor and evaluate user behaviour and ensuring swift action in response to any identified safety concerns, while citing example of the driver selfie check feature that deters cases of driver impersonation and account sharing.

He disclosed that Bolt has a comprehensive awareness and training program for riders and drivers alike, adding that this initiative aims to raise awareness about safety best practices, emphasising the importance of respectful and responsible behaviour on the platform as well as highlighting the how-to of using the in-app safety features.

Mohammed posited that the company has also intensified its efforts to enforce platform guidelines, adding that, “any driver or rider found in violation of safety standards as well as being non-compliant will face swift and decisive consequences, including permanent suspension from the platform. These strict compliance measures have so far resulted in over 5000 drivers being denied access from the platform.”

In efforts to enhance reporting of safety incidents, the country manager stated that Bolt has introduced enhanced reporting mechanisms that will empower users to report safety concerns more efficiently.

“Bolt has enhanced its safety features to facilitate improved detection and provide clear, user-friendly prompts for both riders and drivers. This enables easy in-app communication in case of any issues during a trip, ensuring prompt assistance. The company also has dedicated 24/7 Safety and Social Media Support available in-app. Bolt remains committed to investigating and resolving reported issues promptly, prioritising the safety and well-being of all users of its platform,” he further explained.