/
RSS Feed
Online taxi firm Bolt has restricted ride requests between Nigeria and South Africa after a social media rivalry between the two countries led to a surge in prank bookings. Users from both nations began booking and then canceling rides in the other country as a joke, leaving drivers stranded and frustrated.
Munyaradzi Chinyama, a Bolt driver from Zimbabwe based in Cape Town, received three fake ride requests before realizing they weren’t genuine, resulting in wasted fuel, time, and money. Bolt has since identified and blocked users involved in these pranks, stating, “We understand the impact this situation has had on our driver-partners in Nigeria and South Africa.” Despite the restrictions, ride requests between other countries remain unaffected.
Chinyama also reported receiving insulting messages through Bolt’s messaging feature, with some even calling him “Mandela’s son.” The origins of this “Bolt war” are unclear, but social media users in Nigeria and South Africa, two of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest economies, have a history of trolling each other.
The situation escalated after a social media user in South Africa boasted about pranking Nigerian drivers, prompting swift retaliation from Nigerians. A driver in Kano, Nigeria, recounted receiving an airport ride request from an international number, only for the passenger to cancel without explanation, leaving him and his colleagues frustrated.
Some social media users expressed sympathy for the drivers caught in the crossfire, urging others to stop targeting them. One user wrote, “Uber and Bolt drivers are just trying to make ends meet. They aren’t on Twitter trolling anyone. They are literally trying to earn an honest living. Please leave them alone.” Another added, “The Bolt challenge is painful because it’s innocent and hardworking people on both sides suffering for the thoughtlessness of others.”
In Nigeria, where fuel prices have skyrocketed in recent months, drivers wasted valuable resources chasing non-existent customers. The “Bolt war” also reportedly caused fare prices to surge in both countries, leaving many unable to afford rides.
This incident is just the latest in a series of online spats between South Africans and Nigerians, who have previously clashed over issues ranging from pop stars Tyla and Arya Starr to national football teams.
