In 2016, when Bolt first launched in Nigeria as Taxify, ride-hailing was still a new idea. Even the name sounded different. Back then, the promise was convenience. 

You could book a car from your phone, avoid roadside negotiations, and see who was coming to pick you up. Safety, at the time, largely meant knowing the driver’s name and phone number, and that alone felt revolutionary.

In those early days, ride-hailing platforms were built primarily to move people. If you got from point A to point B without issues, the system had done its job. 

There was little conversation around layered safety tools, real-time monitoring, or incident prevention. Riders relied on intuition, drivers relied on experience, and platforms responded only when something went wrong.

Fast forward to 2026, and the conversation has completely shifted.

Today, Bolt operates in a reality where safety is no longer a single feature, it’s an ecosystem. What started with basic trip visibility has evolved into multiple in-app safety tools designed to prevent incidents, detect risk, and respond in real time. 

Riders and drivers now have access to a range of safety features that work quietly in the background, from trip sharing and emergency assistance to ride monitoring, identity verification, and recording tools that increase accountability on both sides.

This evolution didn’t happen by accident. As ride-hailing became part of everyday life, late-night trips, airport runs, long-distance movement, the risks became clearer, and expectations grew. Moving people was no longer enough. Platforms had to ensure those movements were as safe as possible.

By 2026, safety on ride-hailing platforms looks very different from what it did a decade earlier. Instead of reacting after incidents, systems are designed to detect unusual activity, encourage safer behaviour, and provide faster access to help when it’s needed. 

Drivers are better protected. Riders are more informed. Trust is no longer assumed, it’s built into the experience.

The journey from Taxify in 2016 vs Bolt in 2026 mirrors the growth of ride-hailing itself. What began as a tool for convenience has matured into a service built around responsibility, accountability, and care. The biggest shift isn’t just the number of features, it’s the philosophy behind them.

In 2016, the goal was to get you there. In 2026, the goal is to get you there safely.

And that difference says everything about how far ride-hailing has come.

According to a new nationwide study by Ipsos, commissioned by Bolt Nigeria, eight out of ten Nigerians believe ride-hailing is safer than traditional transport.

This captures both the progress of technology, and the gaps in public safety that technology has been able to fill.

The Ride-Hailing Safety Perception Report, presented at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja GRA, Lagos, revealed that 96% of passengers said they use ride-hailing because it feels safer, while 95% said it is their first choice for late-night trips. 

Based on surveys conducted across major cities including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan, the report revealed how safety perceptions influence transport choices. Women made up most of the users, and nearly half use the apps several times a week.

Osi Oguah, Bolt Nigeria’s general manager, noted the fine line between innovation and public trust.

“Safety is at the core of everything we do at Bolt. This research gives us valuable insight into how Nigerians experience and perceive safety when using ride-hailing. We’ll continue to invest in technology, partnerships, and awareness to ensure every ride on Bolt is not only affordable and reliable but also safe,” he said.

Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, represented by the Director of Transport Operations, commended the study for both its reassurance and challenge revealed. 

His goodwill message urged ride-hailing operators to collaborate more on data and transparency.

“The decision by Bolt to commission an independent safety perception study is commendable and forward-thinking,” he said. “It demonstrates a genuine commitment to listening to users, understanding their concerns, and continuously improving the ride-hailing experience. This reflects the spirit of partnership that drives our collective progress in the transport sector.”

The need for data sharing was expatiated as a recognition that safety is not limited to apps, but includes visibility, regulation, and accountability. 

Lagos, he said, is already building a more connected transport data system, designed to link operator platforms with government infrastructure.

Weyinmi Aghadiuno, Bolt’s head of Regulatory and Policy, also commented on the findings:

“It’s a landmark study that gives voice to what millions of Nigerians already know. Ride-hailing is changing how people move and it’s making travel safer. At Bolt, safety is not just a feature, it’s a philosophy,” she said. 

This drew attention to interesting data that revealed 97% of riders say safety tools such as GPS tracking, trip sharing, and driver verification make them feel safer.

The Ipsos presentation, led by Stephanie Kanyiri, added more context. The 250-respondent survey showed that two-thirds of Nigerians believe ride-hailing helps reduce drunk driving, as many use apps to get home after social outings. 94% have booked rides for friends or family late at night, a subtle sign of how ride-hailing has become a form of community safety.

“The findings reflect an encouraging trend, Nigerians increasingly see ride-hailing as a trusted and secure mobility option. Safety features that enhance visibility, accountability, and control are major drivers of confidence among passengers, especially in urban centres.”

However, Kanyiri pointed out an awareness gap that could not be ignored. Some riders know the safety features exist but rarely use them. Others misunderstand what “safety” means, linking it to only one function, which is driver ratings or trip sharing, instead of the full ecosystem of in-app tools. 

“Different people attribute safety to different features,” she explained, calling for continuous public education.

While ride-hailing companies celebrate public trust, that trust also reveals how Nigerians distrust the alternatives. However, the report isn’t cynical but corrective. It suggests that when safety is designed, tracked, and verified, people notice. And they reward it with loyalty.

Trust must evolve into structure. That means better data-sharing, wider awareness of safety tools, and more unified regulation, not to limit innovation, but to protect it.

The Ride-Hailing Safety Perception Report provides valuable insights that will guide Bolt’s future investments in safety education, technology innovation, and public awareness initiatives. 

Bolt reiterates that insights from the study will also inform upcoming campaigns to increase understanding and adoption of in-app safety features.

This is part of Bolt’s ongoing investment in safety features on its platform, reinforcing its unwavering commitment to driver safety and enhancing driver-rider trust. 

This in-app feature is designed to bolster driver safety by implementing a stringent verification process for new riders joining the Bolt platform.

As part of this in-app feature, new riders to the platform will be asked to take a selfie before they are able to place a ride-hailing order. For the selfie to be valid, it needs to be an authentic picture of a physically present person, with the face clearly visible. The rider will not be able to place a ride-hailing order if their selfie is not valid.

The rider must also upload an identification document, which Bolt will check against the selfie. The validation process takes a couple of minutes, and riders only have to take a selfie the first time they place an order. This feature will be tested in Nigeria, and requires the latest version of the app to use.

Yahaya Mohammed, Country Manager for Bolt Nigeria said: “At Bolt, we know from our 150M+ customers and network of 3.5 million fleet, driver and courier partners that feeling safe is a critical part of a high-quality ride-hailing experience. That’s why safety is our top priority, and rider verification is the newest feature we’re testing dedicated to upgrading driver safety. It’s part of our ongoing investment in new products, features, and our dedicated in-house specially trained safety team, to ensure that we can continue to improve the safety ecosystem of the Bolt app.”

This is the latest safety feature announced by Bolt, with the tests joining a suite of existing driver safety features. Existing driver safety features include an emergency response service integrated into the app. When activated, this service shares the driver’s details and location 

with AA’s 24/7 contact centre and then deploys private security and emergency services immediately. Lastly, an audio recording feature that allows drivers to trigger an in-app audio recording if they ever feel uncomfortable during a ride. Recordings are encrypted and stored on the recorder’s device for 24 hours. Neither driver nor passenger can access the recording for any other purpose than to attach it to a Customer Support case. If the encrypted recording is not submitted to the Bolt Customer Support team, it is deleted within 24 hours.

The testing of the Rider Verification feature represents a pivotal step in Bolt’s ongoing efforts to continually enhance safety measures on its platform. Passengers are encouraged to update their Bolt app to the latest version to access this feature and contribute to the collective goal of creating a safer ridesharing environment.