Ride-hailing giant Bolt has taken action against an undisclosed number of accounts involved in a recent trend of fake ride requests and cancellations, which has caused disruption for drivers in Nigeria and South Africa.
The company confirmed the move following a social media-driven prank war between users in the two countries.
The incident began as a viral trend where users from either Nigeria or South Africa would order a ride in the other country, only to cancel it once the driver arrived at the pickup location. This practice, tagged the “Request in Nigeria Challenge” by South African users, quickly escalated, causing frustration among Bolt drivers in both nations.
Yahaya Mohammed, Country Manager of Bolt in Nigeria, addressed the issue, saying, “Bolt is aware of the fake ride request incident between some individuals in Nigeria and South Africa. We understand the impact this situation has had on our driver-partners in Nigeria and South Africa. We are committed to ensuring a safe, reliable, and secure experience for all members of our community.”
The digital prank war is seen as an extension of ongoing rivalries between Nigerian and South African citizens. Tensions were further fueled by recent xenophobic sentiments following the participation of Nigerian-born model, Chidimma Adetshina, in the Miss South Africa pageant. Adetshina faced backlash and xenophobic attacks due to her nationality, intensifying the animosity between the two communities.
On August 22, 2024, social media platforms were flooded with screenshots showing South African users initiating fake Bolt rides in Nigeria. One South African farmer, Nimrod Ernest, posted a now-deleted screenshot on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, “When I’m bored, I request in Nigeria, akere their brothers are disrespecting us.”
In retaliation, Nigerian users began making fake ride requests in South Africa, sharing their own screenshots on X. The escalating trend led to disruptions on the Bolt app in both countries, with drivers experiencing artificial surges and frequent ride cancellations.
