Bolt has blocked many accounts involved in a prank between Nigerians and South Africans.
The online trend, which surprised many, reignited the rivalry between the two countries. It began with South Africans starting the “Request in Nigeria Challenge.”
Customers ordered rides and then canceled them after drivers accepted. Some Nigerians followed the example of their South African counterparts.
Several users shared their experiences on X, expressing frustration. One user, @Oladapomikky1, claimed that over 40 Bolt and Uber cars were ordered to a single street in Johannesburg by Nigerians, only to be canceled.
Another user, @Iamwhykayy, sai South Africans were ordering rides from South Africa and canceling them after the driver arrived, wasting drivers’ time and fuel.
The incidents have sparked outrage among X users, who see this behaviour as a form of online harassment and a sign of deeper prejudices. Some believe that the actions reflect a “scary obsession” that South Africans have with Nigerians.
Beyond Boders reports that Yahaya Mohammed, Bolt’s Country Manager in Nigeria, commented on the situation, 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.”
This incident happened a day after Chidimma Adetshina, a South Africa-based model of Nigerian descent, arrived in Lagos for the 2024 Miss Universe Nigeria competition.
The 23-year-old law student decided to participate in the competition after withdrawing from Miss South Africa 2024 due to xenophobic backlash over her nationality.
Nigerians and South Africans clashed online over Adetshina’s withdrawal. Upon arriving in Nigeria, she expressed her excitement, saying, “I’m so thrilled. I was excited throughout the flight and can’t wait to explore more of Nigeria. I look forward to meeting the other contestants. I’m grateful for the opportunity to compete. I believe dreams are valid when action is taken, and I feel this is my time to manifest that. This is the first step towards what I want to achieve.”
