inDrive Boosts Drivers’ Welfare With N1bn Investment in Nigeria

Ride-hailing company inDrive invested N1 billion in the welfare of its drivers in Nigeria last year as the platform intensifies efforts to strengthen its operations and expand its presence in the country’s increasingly competitive mobility market.

The company’s Country Representative, Oladimeji Timothy, disclosed that the investment covered several welfare initiatives, including healthcare, school fees for drivers’ children, vacations, fuel vouchers, medical checks and seasonal gifts during Ramadan and Christmas.

Timothy said the company would continue to invest in the welfare of its drivers, describing them as a critical part of its operations.

“Last year, we invested N1 billion in driver welfare, including healthcare, school fees for drivers’ children, vacation for drivers, fuel vouchers, health checks, seasonal gifts during Ramadan and Christmas, and so on,” he said.

He added, “We will continue investing in driver welfare to ensure the engine that keeps the business going is well cared for.”

The disclosure comes at a time when Nigeria’s ride-hailing industry is undergoing significant changes following Uber’s exit from the Nigerian market after 12 years of operations.

Uber stopped offering rides in Nigeria on September 2, leaving other ride-hailing platforms to compete for drivers and passengers amid rising fuel prices, vehicle maintenance expenses and other operating costs.

Timothy said inDrive’s efforts to increase its market share were based largely on its understanding of local transportation needs and its investment in adapting its services to different markets.

He explained that the company’s knowledge of Nigeria’s transportation environment had helped it develop services focused on affordability, accessibility and safety.

“The market share capture conversation is not new to us. It has always been the result of our investment in a market we deeply understand,” Timothy said.

He added that inDrive’s understanding of the Nigerian market had positioned the company to develop services suited to the needs of different cities.

The company currently operates in seven Nigerian cities and plans to expand its presence by introducing additional services and modules on its platform.

As part of the expansion, inDrive recently introduced a tricycle module to provide passengers with additional and potentially more affordable transportation options.

“We have learned more about the market from a local angle and understand clearly what the different cities need. In view of this, we will be launching more modules; the most recent is the tricycle module,” Timothy stated.

Safety is another major area of focus for the company as it expands its operations.

Timothy said inDrive was strengthening its driver verification processes, trip tracking systems and cooperation with local security agencies.

He also disclosed that the company operates a local incident-management hub to respond to safety-related issues and emergencies involving passengers and drivers.

“Safety is a key tenet for ride-hailing. It is not an afterthought,” he said.

According to him, the company also plans to organise an annual safety summit to address knowledge gaps and promote improved safety practices among stakeholders in the ride-hailing sector.

InDrive has also introduced its Comfort mode as part of efforts to improve the quality of its services and provide passengers with additional options when booking rides.

The company’s renewed focus on driver welfare comes amid growing concerns over the rising cost of operating vehicles in Nigeria.

Higher fuel prices, maintenance expenses and other costs have placed pressure on drivers’ earnings and the profitability of ride-hailing operations.

InDrive has differentiated its service through a fare-negotiation model that allows passengers and drivers to agree on the price of a trip.

The company has also promoted greater autonomy for drivers as part of its operating model.
Timothy said inDrive would continue investing in its drivers, expanding its range of services and building partnerships as it seeks to strengthen its position in Nigeria’s mobility market.

“We have been increasing our market share, and we will continue to do so,” he added.

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