Bolt recognises 50 drivers for professionalism, service quality

Ride-hailing giant Bolt has recognised 50 outstanding driver-partners across Nigeria for their professionalism, service quality, and commitment at its 2025 End-of-Year Community Awards, held recently in Lagos.

The ride-hailing platform stated that the awards were designed to celebrate drivers who demonstrated excellence in safety, dedication, and community building throughout the year. The event brought together driver-partners, Bolt executives, and industry stakeholders to mark what the company described as a strong year for driver engagement and welfare initiatives.

Award recipients were recognised across multiple categories and received household appliances, including televisions, air conditioners, microwaves, deep freezers, air fryers, water dispensers, rechargeable fans, and washing machines. Bolt said the gifts were designed to appreciate drivers’ contributions while supporting their personal and family needs.

“Our driver-partners are the heartbeat of our platform,” said Weyinmi Aghadiuno, Bolt’s Head of Regulatory & Policy for Africa. “They are more than drivers; they are community builders, and we are proud to celebrate the individuals who go above and beyond to deliver safe, reliable, and professional service across Nigeria.”

The recognition comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions in Nigeria’s ride-hailing sector in Q3 2025, when platforms such as Uber, inDrive, and LagRide faced public criticism and protests from drivers, particularly in Lagos, over earnings, safety, and exclusion from decision-making processes.

Since then, Bolt has rolled out several measures targeted at addressing driver concerns, including enhanced safety features, driver training programmes, and increased community engagement. The company said involving drivers in its ecosystem has been a focus area compared to some of its competitors.

Bolt’s recent engagement efforts also include its Customer Service Week “national thank-you tour,” during which the company distributed ₦5,000 Chicken Republic meal vouchers to 300 drivers across 10 Nigerian cities.

According to data from analytics firm Sensor Tower, Bolt was the most downloaded travel and mobility app in Nigeria in September 2025, although inDrive ranked higher globally.

The End-of-Year Awards, Bolt said, reinforce its commitment to building a more inclusive and rewarding ecosystem for driver-partners as competition in Nigeria’s ride-hailing market continues to intensify.