Bolt has recorded a 92% week-on-week increase in driver registrations in Nigeria following Uber’s exit from the Nigerian market, according to the company.
Bolt disclosed the increase on September 16, saying the surge reflects growing interest from drivers looking for alternative platforms after Uber ended its Nigerian operations on September 2, following about 12 years in the market.
However, Bolt did not disclose the absolute number of registrations before and after Uber's departure. That means the 92% figure measures the rate of increase, not the size of Bolt's newly acquired driver base.
Bolt said its existing onboarding and safety requirements remain unchanged despite the increased interest. Drivers previously suspended or blocked for serious safety violations will also not automatically be reinstated.
What this means for Nigeria's ride-hailing market
Uber's departure is already changing the competitive structure of Nigeria's ride-hailing industry.
For Bolt, the immediate opportunity is to absorb part of the driver supply previously connected to Uber. Other platforms, including inDrive and local operators, are also competing for drivers and riders.
More drivers can expand Bolt's capacity, but drivers still face high fuel, vehicle maintenance and operating costs. The economics of the market therefore remain important even as platforms compete for Uber's displaced supply.
FintechReviewNG Take
The 92% increase is significant — but it is a supply-side signal, not proof that Bolt has captured Uber's entire market.
The next numbers worth watching are:
Driver retention after onboarding
Ride volumes following Uber's exit
Driver earnings and utilisation
Passenger migration between platforms
Bolt's transaction and payment volumes
Pricing and commission changes
Uber's exit is therefore becoming more than a mobility story. It is a live test of how Nigeria's digital-platform economy reallocates users, drivers and transactions when a major platform leaves the market.
VERDICT: SIGNIFICANT — WATCH THE PLATFORM SHIFT.
Source: PUNCH, September 16, 2026.