2 months ago
33
Nigerians living in South Africa have condemned the recent ordering and cancelling of Bolt rides as Nigeria and South Africa engage in yet another battle of supremacy.
Those who spoke to Saturday PUNCH from their locations in Pretoria and Johannesburg, described the incident as energy channelled in the wrong direction while calling on the two countries to shun the long-standing “unhealthy rivalry.”
The enduring battle for supremacy between Nigerians and South Africans took a new turn on Thursday, as they sought dominance over each other on the ride-hailing service, Bolt.
Nationals of the two countries renewed the rivalry by engaging in fake ordering of Bolt rides in South Africa and Nigeria.
South Africans initiated this by ordering for Bolt rides in Nigeria and cancelling as soon as the drivers arrived at pick-up locations.
Irked by the act, Nigerians retaliated by ordering Bolt and Uber rides in popular South African cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town, only to cancel once the drivers reached the inputted location.
This resulted in about 40 drivers appearing in a particular location at the same time.
This development reportedly frustrated both Bolt and Uber drivers, who temporarily shut down their apps and returned home.
Consequently, passengers were forced to trek long distances under unfavourable weather conditions to their destinations.
This unhealthy rivalry, Saturday PUNCH gathered has led to Bolt suspending several accounts and preventing inter-country ride requests.
Reacting to the incident, the President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Mrs Doris Ikeri-Solarin, said the two nations are wasting resources over a destructive rivalry.
He said, “Nigerians and South Africans must find common ground, sheathe their swords, and collaborate. We can achieve a lot in synergy rather than unhealthy competition. These two nations are capable of leading the African continent.”
Similarly, a Nigerian living in Johannesburg, Sammy Oladejo, described the situation as “unreasonable, unfair, and unjust,” noting that it took a toll on innocent nationals of both countries who were trying to make ends meet.
“Bolt drivers are now wasting their time and fuel on issues that have nothing to do with them but impacting them adversely,” Oladejo added.
He cautioned those involved to resolve the matter amicably, as it could snowball into dangerous crises, especially in South Africa.
“Nigerians using these services in South Africa might have to be cautious to avoid becoming victims of retaliation if the drivers decide to take matters into their own hands,” Oladejo warned.
English (US) ·