Trending News | Africa Guardian
Online taxi service Bolt has restricted “inter-country” ride requests between Nigeria and South Africa following a spike in social media pranks. Users in both countries began booking and then canceling rides in the other nation, causing drivers to undertake fruitless journeys in search of passengers who were not even in the same country.
While Bolt has implemented this restriction specifically for Nigeria and South Africa, inter-country requests will still be available between other nations. The prank has been particularly problematic in Nigeria, where recent spikes in fuel prices have exacerbated the issue. Many drivers were forced to use valuable fuel on futile trips, leading to increased operational costs.
The so-called “Bolt war” has also contributed to rising ride prices in both countries, leaving some users stranded as they could not afford the increased fares. The origin of this rivalry remains unclear, but it reflects a broader trend of social media-driven trolling between the two largest economies in sub-Saharan Africa.
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