Ride-hailing company Bolt has recorded a 92 per cent week-on-week increase in driver registrations in Nigeria following the exit of its major competitor, Uber.

Bolt’s Senior General Manager for West Africa, Teddy Appa-Dankyi, disclosed the development in an email to PUNCH on Wednesday.

Uber ended its operations in Nigeria on September 2 after about 12 years in the country, prompting drivers and passengers to explore other ride-hailing platforms.

Appa-Dankyi said the sharp increase showed growing interest among drivers seeking opportunities on Bolt following Uber’s departure.

“We are encouraged by the strong increase in interest from drivers looking to join Bolt. It shows drivers’ confidence in our platform and the opportunities we provide,” he said.

However, he stressed that the increase in applications would not lead the company to relax its safety and onboarding requirements.

Bolt said every prospective driver would continue to undergo its established registration and safety checks before being allowed to operate on the platform.

The company also clarified that drivers previously suspended or blocked for serious safety violations, misconduct or other breaches would not automatically regain access because of the increased demand.

The 92 per cent increase represents a week-on-week change, although Bolt did not disclose the actual number of registrations recorded before and after Uber’s exit.

The development comes as Nigeria’s ride-hailing sector adjusts to Uber’s withdrawal, with operators seeking to attract more drivers and passengers amid high fuel, vehicle maintenance and other operating costs.

Bolt, which has operated in Nigeria since 2016, said it would continue investing in its platform and driver community as the country’s mobility market evolves.