Bolt launches family profile in Nigeria to transform ride-hailing for households

Ride-hailing platform Bolt has rolled out a new Family Profile feature in Nigeria, aiming to make mobility more inclusive for families and small support networks. The new shared account system allows a single user to manage and pay for rides for up to nine other people, all from one Bolt account. This feature was first launched by Uber in the  ride-hailing sector.

The launch is a strategic step in Bolt’s mission to localise its services and meet the nuanced mobility needs of Nigerian users. In a country where multi-generational households are common and transportation is often coordinated informally among family members, the Family Profile feature provides a  solution for what has long been a manual and inefficient process.

According to internal data from Bolt, approximately 2–6% of rides in Nigeria are facilitated by others, often involving multiple calls or text messages to share driver details, track rides, or resolve payment issues. With the new feature, families can now add members to a shared profile, set monthly spending limits, and receive real-time trip notifications. Riders can still request trips independently through the Bolt app, while the account owner maintains full visibility and financial control.

Importantly, the family profile enforces Bolt’s core safety standards. All members must have their own Bolt accounts and be at least 18 years old, in compliance with platform regulations. The feature cannot be used to book rides for unaccompanied minors, a boundary the company says is necessary for legal and safety reasons. That said, it remains ideal for use cases like scheduling rides for elderly parents or managing transport for family members who aren’t tech-savvy.

“At Bolt, we want to make ride-hailing work for the way people actually move,” said Osi Oguah, Country Manager for Bolt Nigeria. “Family Profile is a simple but powerful way to support others, whether that’s older relatives or anyone you care about, without needing to coordinate every trip. It’s about control, visibility, and freedom in one feature.”

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The introduction of Family Profile reflects Bolt’s wider commitment to platform safety and user empowerment.  It comes just weeks after the company recorded that offline trips on its platform have dropped 42% over the last three months. It builds on existing in-app security features like trip verification codes, live location sharing, ride monitoring, and emergency assistance tools, all part of Bolt’s plan to lead in a competitive and safety-conscious ride-hailing market.