Through the Courier product (formerly known as Uber Package), users can book a delivery driver to collect prepaid items from stores, whether purchased in-store or online. This service caters to the growing demand for quick and hassle-free delivery solutions.

“We aim to stay close to the evolving needs of our consumer base and the introduction of Store Pickups with Courier demonstrates this understanding. With Courier, one can send or receive items and also have purchased items picked up in-store, providing convenience for consumers and allowing them to spend more time with loved ones this festive season,” said Tope Akinwumi, country manager, Nigeria, Uber.

With Store Pickups, one can upload a picture of his or her receipt and provide specific instructions for the driver regarding where and how to pick up the items. Additionally, the driver can interact with the store on the customer’s behalf.

To use the service, consumers simply need to prepare the item for pickup, select “Courier” on the Uber app, choose the delivery type (send or receive), input the pickup and delivery addresses, and review the terms and conditions.

Upon confirmation of the request, the consumer can monitor the delivery progress in real-time via the app.  

Safety remains a core principle that Uber embeds into all products and services. With Store Pickups, users can take advantage of Live Tracking, which allows them to follow the pickup and delivery of their items, and PIN Verification, which provides a unique PIN that the delivery person can use to verify that the correct item has been collected or delivered.

The Uber Store Pickups is currently available in Lagos, with plans to extend availability to other key cities in the near future.

These enhancements aim to give Uber drivers greater flexibility, transparency, and safety while delivering exceptional service to riders.

Continuing its dedication to user feedback, Uber has improved the app experience for both riders and drivers, ensuring a seamless and efficient platform.

With the introduction of Flex Pay, drivers now have the option to access their earnings daily through mobile wallets, providing immediate financial support to meet daily needs, such as fuel and meals, eliminating the need to wait for weekly payouts. This financial flexibility allows drivers to transfer their earnings directly to their preferred payment platform.

Before accepting a trip, drivers can now view the pick-up location, destination, and the fare they will earn. Upfront fares are calculated based on base fares, estimated trip length, duration, distance and surge pricing. Both these features have been rolled out to drivers across all products nationwide.

Since Uber arrived in Nigeria in 2014, the company has remained steadfast in its commitment to providing drivers who operate independently on the platform with sustainable earning opportunities and has significantly invested in key safety measures. 

Safety is a critical matter for Uber, leading the company to prioritize new ways to enhance safety for riders and drivers. The company has added several safety features to its platform, including Audio Recording, Real-Time ID checks, Rider Verification, and an in-app Emergency Button. 

Both drivers and riders can record trip audio using their mobile devices in case of safety incidents. Users can also leverage In-App Emergency Button to connect directly to private emergency services through a third-party security supplier. Sety, Uber’s partner, operates a 24/7 emergency contact center.

The Share My Trip option can allow riders to share trip details with trusted contacts, ensuring loved ones know their whereabouts. Uber’s technology detects rare events (e.g., unexpected stops or possible crashes) using GPS and sensors. In such situations, Uber initiates a Ride Check to offer assistance.

“Earners are at the heart of our business and we have a comprehensive approach to taking their feedback on board. This leads us to constantly innovate to develop solutions that enhance their experience while operating on the platform. We are therefore pleased to roll out these new features that will give drivers improved choice over the trips they opt to take daily on the platform,” said Tope Akinwumi, Country Manager, Uber Nigeria. 

In the last quarter, Uber introduced several innovative initiatives, including the launch of Uber Package, a peer-to-peer delivery service available as Package Bike and Package Bicycle in Lagos and Abuja. 

This product addresses the need for transparent pricing and efficient delivery services, supporting entrepreneurs and businesses across Nigeria. Driving its mission, a key partnership with Travelstart was announced last year, rewarding top riders and drivers with international and local flight tickets.

Uber Package, introduced in 2021, has rapidly expanded its presence, with over 3000 active vehicles facilitating deliveries across Lagos. This service has now extended to Abuja and is set to launch in additional cities like Port Harcourt, providing individuals and businesses with seamless delivery solutions.

Akinwumi emphasized the company’s focus on supporting drivers by introducing new decision-making tools. Drivers can now plan their weekly trips and earnings in advance, optimizing their time and efforts.

Efunlola Hughes, Head of Driver Operations, West Africa, pointed to the importance of driver-centric features such as Flex Pay and Upfront Destination, which enhance financial transparency and empower drivers to make informed decisions.

Uber continues to bolster mobility in Nigeria, making transportation safer, more convenient, and accessible for all. The company aims to become emission free by 2040 and is already working on converting vehicles to CNG in partnership with the Safety Ministry.

As the most populous country in Africa, with the largest economy, Nigeria has massive potential to be an economic powerhouse, not only on the continent but globally as well.

However, recent years have seen the Nigerian economy struggle to rise above the impacts of challenges that have mainly emanated from outside its borders, including the economically devastating Covid-19 pandemic and, more recently, the volatile global economic environment, with steadily rising inflation and interest rates.

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Mobility has a vital role to play in addressing many of these challenges and enabling Nigeria and its people to gain sustainable forward economic momentum.

In addition to the urgent need for more reliable and affordable goods transportation solutions for the fast-growing small- and micro-business sector, people need safe and reliable transport to access the earning opportunities that do become available, not to mention education and healthcare.

The recent stellar growth in the popularity of, and demand for, ride-hailing in many major centres across Nigeria offers compelling evidence of the vital role that reliable and affordable transport offerings play in the sustainable development of the country.

Uber has been at the forefront of this steady e-hailing growth trend since we first entered Nigeria in 2014. While the past eight years have certainly not been without their speed bumps, the steady growth in demand for our services, coupled with the recent entry into the market of several other e-hailing providers, illustrates the significant potential for ride-hailing technology to transform the Nigerian transport landscape for the better – and the economic growth prospects will be bolstered in the process.

A great example of this positive knock-on effect of accessible mobility is the recently launched Uber Go, our most affordable offering to date. It has enabled us to take our value-adding services to all segments of the market, including those that are under-served.

An entirely new rider market is opening for us. Nigerians who previously shied away from ride sharing platforms due to negative cost perceptions are now taking full advantage of the Uber Go service to enjoy affordable, convenient, and stress-free transportation that allows them to access the economic opportunities they need more easily.

Our Uber Connect product offers users access to delivery service at the tap of a button and this has been equally well received, particularly by SMMEs who appreciate having an on-demand small parcel delivery solution that doesn’t force them to significantly inflate their prices due to high courier costs, thereby ensuring that their product offerings are more accessible to larger segments of the population, including price-sensitive consumers.

The valuable role that Uber Connect is playing in underpinning the growth of small businesses in Nigeria is demonstrated by the 85% average quarterly uptake of the service since its inception.

Of course, it’s not just the ‘end-users’ of Uber’s services in Nigeria that benefit; the growing demand for our unique and trusted brand of e-hailing and delivery services is creating an increasing number of income opportunities for drivers.

To support the uptake of these opportunities, we are working to address what has been one of the biggest barriers to entry for new drivers, namely the high cost of vehicle ownership.

Our partnership with Moove Africa gives prospective drivers access to affordable compact vehicles via flexible rental and drive-to-own options. The low weekly repayments on these zero-deposit vehicle access schemes not only enable drivers to earn a steady income but also cover the costs of maintenance and insurance, both of which are cornerstones of a sustainable career as a driver who uses the Uber platform.

As Uber, and the other e-hailing platforms entering African markets, continue to address some of the key mobility and economic earning challenges that still exist in Nigeria in the ways outlined above, we are seeing tangible evidence of the power that our offering has to create a virtuous circle of opportunity that, in turn, leads to general economic upliftment.

And given that Uber currently only operates in 10 of the 36 states in Nigeria, we see immense potential to expand the positive impact of our model and ultimately act as an economic growth catalyst throughout the country in the coming years.