If you ever needed a metaphor for surviving Lagos, try booking a ride during rush hour. Between the driver who asks for a “little something extra” and the one who shows up with a car older than democracy, it’s hard to know whether you’re hailing transport or testing fate.
Welcome to the wild terrain of ride-hailing in Nigeria, with apps promising comfort, affordability, and innovation, but customers getting stuck between fumes and fury.
This week on Brand Comparison Thursday, we dig into the hectic, usually hilarious, sometimes catastrophic world of inDrive and LagRide, two services aiming to fix urban mobility—one by giving passengers the power to price, the other by rolling out government-backed structure with Chinese precision.
However, behind the polished interfaces and brightly coloured sedans lies the issues not just of brands, but of ideology; freedom vs. regulation, affordability vs. safety, and ultimately, convenience vs. sanity.
So, we put both brands under the spotlight, their technology, operations, and real customer experiences. Not to bash but to reveal what works, what’s broken, and what needs a jumpstart.
Company Background and Business Model
inDrive is a globally recognised ride-hailing platform that entered the Nigerian market with a peer-to-peer pricing model. Passengers and drivers negotiate the fare—a concept that’s been commended for flexibility but also slammed for turbulence. It operates without fixed fares, giving drivers and riders the freedom to agree on prices before the ride starts.
LagRide, on the other hand, is a product of a public-private partnership between Lagos State Government and CIG Motors, a Chinese automobile company known for GAC vehicles.
Launched to enhance Lagos’ smart mobility agenda, LagRide provides access to quality, government-supported vehicles, mostly GAC brands, with drivers trained under strict operational protocols. Earlier this year, CIG Motors assumed full operational management of LagRide, aiming to enhance efficiency and innovation.
User Experience: Reviews from the Streets
Now to the spice: real user reviews. We analysed over 60 customer complaints and praises for inDrive—and what emerged is a platform loved and loathed in equal measure.
“InDrive riders are threats to life! They are so toxic! They beat customers and this is becoming very worrisome!! We are not safe anymore in Nigeria.” — NennyChi
“The drivers are one of the most annoying drivers I’ve ever encountered.” — TeeGeeMee
“The app is great but the drivers should always have a good and working car with AC…” — Qwin Kika
While some users appreciated the affordability and wide reach, many spoke about unprofessional drivers, app glitches, poor vetting, and dangerous behaviour.
A recurring issue was pricing inconsistency:
A driver said: “How can I drive 45 minutes for ₦4,500? That’s a ride of over ₦9,800 on Bolt.” — Temmytopsy fashion
“Your riders will be using Uber and Bolt prices… I’m seeing ₦10,200 and they’re sending ₦12,800.” — Andreascini, a passenger.
More drivers aired their dismay:
“The app is inhumane and they treat their drivers as slaves.” — Black Gold 2018
“This company doesn’t care about drivers. You’ll need external resources to fix your car.” — the1stwalker
Now to LagRide. While it hasn’t received as much public criticism (yet), its presence is quieter but more structured.
But users complained about regular unavailability. “Ever since I downloaded LagosRide they never have a driver around even when you see their cab beside you. LagosRide is just too useless on my phone.”
“There’s no ride anywhere whenever I try to book a ride. It keeps saying they’re busy even early in the morning and I already put money in my wallet. Please, I want my money back. I don’t have enough to do sara.”
As a government-backed solution, its cars are typically newer GAC vehicles, professionally maintained, and built with features like vehicle tracking, driver ID systems, and insurance coverage for both driver and rider. But then, the LagRide hasn’t received wide coverage yet.
The app is integrated with Lagos State’s mobility ecosystem, offering smart payment systems, trip history, and data-driven route optimisation.
With CIG Motors now in full control, there’s a move toward improving real-time vehicle tracking, fuel management, and driver discipline, making it more of a “mobility as a service” platform than just another ride-hailing app.
Pricing and Driver Welfare
inDrive’s killer feature is its “Name Your Price” model. It appeals to users who are tired of algorithmic pricing fluctuations and just want to say, “Oga, I fit pay ₦2,000, take am or leave am.” But this bidding system has become its own enemy. Multiple drivers complained about fare undercutting:
“Imagine a ride of 10km reduced to ₦1,200 in 2025,”
Others felt used and discarded:
“This company doesn’t care about drivers. They’ll reduce drivers to nothing to the extent you’ll need external resources to fix your car.”
On the riders’ side, there are gripes about drivers increasing agreed fares mid-trip, or suddenly changing pickup locations. This shows a complete lack of control or regulation, and it’s harming trust.
LagRide, in contrast, operates with set fares that are generated by the app and influenced by distance and time. While some may argue that it’s less flexible, it offers predictability. Because drivers lease vehicles directly from CIG Motors, there’s a built-in sense of accountability and vehicle maintenance—absent in inDrive’s freelance approach.
However, that model has recently changed. CIG Motors has ended the lease-to-own arrangement, replacing it with a salaried employment structure. Drivers now earn ₦150,000 monthly, which is far lower than what many could earn under the previous model.
Many drivers are unhappy about this shift, as they originally signed up with the expectation of eventually owning their vehicles.
Safety, Security and Driver Vetting
This is where LagRide steps up. Drivers are uniformed, trained, and closely monitored. Each car comes with an embedded dashcam and Lagos State’s traffic management tools, providing real-time data to both users and the government.
inDrive, meanwhile, has minimal vetting and riders complain of its approach to safety and driver screening.
A user said: “I don’t think they vet their drivers… The cars are very dirty too. If there’s an alternative, I won’t be using it.”
Another stated: “Please if you want to book inDrive at night for your safety, don’t… Talking from experience.” — Kobi Nuel
There have been repeated accounts of verbal and even physical abuse, with little clarity on how—or whether—the company verifies driver identity, criminal history, or vehicle condition prior to onboarding. Until recently, the app lacked any form of live monitoring or credible escalation structure.
Recognising these gaps, inDrive has now partnered with the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Police Force to launch safety education initiatives for drivers and riders, including new app features such as upgraded emergency contact tools and more transparent ride information.
A data-sharing agreement has also been implemented, enabling government authorities to track trips and validate driver credentials in real-time.
On the other hand, LagRide is connected to the Lagos State monitoring system, with drivers undergoing pre-qualification checks and training and vehicles trackable. The integration of smart city tech, such as onboard cameras, dash sensors, and SOS buttons, has made it a safer option—at least on paper.
In reality, a user said: “Your cars are really great but some of your drivers especially the young ones needs to do better in maintaining their cars. One common trait amongst these young drivers is driving and using their phones. Some even watch movies or WhatsApp statuses while driving and I’ve witnessed about 5.”
Technology and App Performance
There’s little contest here.
inDrive has been described as clunky. It crashes. It freezes. It loses signal. It doesn’t remember your ride if you leave the app. One reviewer said:
“The model is great, but the app isn’t. It freezes. It takes me back to a fresh page when I reopen it instead of my ongoing trip.”
Another said: “My phone network suddenly goes off once I turn on the app.”
LagRide’s app, since CIG Motors took over, there’s been an overhaul in the backend system, aiming to improve route efficiency, support seamless bookings, and offer multi-modal payments. Riders can even pre-book rides, track drivers in real time, and rate both the vehicle and the driver post-ride.
But a user complained about the pre-booking system: “The car was very neat and the driver was well behaved. However, please check The scheduling. It didn’t work for me.”
“I booked LagRide and unfortunately no one attended to me, I also booked ahead and still no one came. That’s very bad. Thanks.”
Affordability vs. Sustainability
inDrive scores highly on affordability—initially. Riders set their prices, and drivers can accept or decline. But this flexibility has become a cause of resentment. While passengers want cheap fares, drivers complain of unsustainable pricing and lack of platform support.
“The app pricing is terrible… affecting all drivers. Driver goes home with almost nothing.” — datrealkida
LagRide’s model sets fixed pricing, which some may find higher than inDrive’s negotiated fares, but it offers predictability and economic balance for drivers and the system.
Finally, Which Should You Choose?
It depends on what you value more: affordability, availability and negotiation power or structure, safety, and accountability.
inDrive gives you control over what you’re willing to pay—but it comes with unpredictable drivers, possible safety risks, and sometimes, unreliable app performance. The brand must address its growing reputation problem, invest in real driver vetting, and overhaul its tech stack to stay relevant.
LagRide, while not as popular (yet), was built on a foundation where government support meets smart innovation. But the new salary-model following the handover to CIG Motors might just limit its scale.
I believe the best outcomes come from listening and evolving, and hope both brands take this feedback seriously—for the good of their users, and the city they serve.
