Ride-hailing company Bolt has implemented restrictions on cross-country ride requests between Nigeria and South Africa following a social media-driven prank that affected drivers in both nations.
The company confirmed to the Associated Press that it has identified and blocked users participating in a scheme where individuals from one country would book rides in the other, only to cancel them, leaving drivers stranded.
Munyaradzi Chinyama, a Zimbabwean Bolt driver based in Cape Town, reported receiving three fraudulent ride requests before realizing they were not genuine. “I wasted a lot of fuel, time, and money,” Chinyama told the AP.
Bolt stated, “We understand the impact this situation has had on our driver-partners in Nigeria and South Africa.” The company clarified that inter-country requests would still function between other nations.
The prank appears to have originated from long-standing social media rivalries between users in sub-Saharan Africa’s two largest economies. One social media user’s post about requesting rides in Nigeria as retaliation for perceived disrespect seems to have triggered a chain reaction.
A Nigerian driver in Kano described receiving an order for an airport trip from an international number, only to have the requester not show up and eventually cancel the trip. He indicated that many of his colleagues faced similar issues.
The incident has had broader implications. Drivers reported wasting fuel and time on non-existent customers, particularly impactful in Nigeria where fuel prices have recently surged. Users in both countries reported price increases for legitimate rides, leaving some unable to afford transportation.
The event has sparked discussions about the vulnerability of gig economy workers to such pranks. Social media users from both countries have expressed sympathy for the affected drivers, emphasizing their efforts to earn an honest living.
This “Bolt war” is the latest in a series of online conflicts between South African and Nigerian social media users. Recent points of contention have included a controversy surrounding Miss South Africa, where a contestant of Nigerian descent withdrew following xenophobic abuse. Debates comparing popular musicians from both countries and rivalries between national football teams have also fueled tensions.
Bolt has not specified how long the cross-country request restrictions will remain in place. The company continues to monitor the situation to ensure the safety and fair treatment of its driver-partners in both countries.
AP/BBC
