Transportation network company, UBER Nigeria, currently has 9,000 active driver-partners and no fewer than 267,000 monthly riders, an official has said.
Francesca Uriri, the company’s Head of Communications in West Africa, made the disclosure in an interview in Lagos on Wednesday.
Uriri said that the drivers and riders were based in Abuja and Lagos, where UBER currently focused.
She claimed that the growing number of the riders was due to safety and services provided by the company.
“UBER works together with regulators to ensure the safety of its platform and that of those who use it,’’ Uriri said.
The official also said that Uber maintained a high level of privacy.
“UBER has taken steps to protect its sensitive external data repositories.
“In Nigeria UBER is currently available in Lagos and Abuja and is focused on enabling driver-partners by providing business and economic opportunities.
“The steadily growing number of UBER driver-partners in Nigeria is a testament to the appeal of the Uber business model.
“That is because it creates real opportunities for local entrepreneurs to create and enjoy flexibility and enhance earning potential,” she said.
According to Uriri, each city in Nigeria is unique and offers unique opportunities.
“We have found Nigeria to be defined by agility, creativity and adaptability; we are committed to growth, and excited about the potential.
“ When UBER commenced operations in Lagos four years ago, it (Lagos) was the fourth city in sub-Saharan Africa,’’ she said.
She said that UBER was already present in over 140 cities in 40 countries before then.
“ Today, Uber is available in 13 cities in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is available globally in over 600 cities in over 75 countries spanning six continents,’’ she said.
Uriri said that UBER was constantly looking for ways to help driver-partners to get more value through many partnerships.
“In Nigeria, we have partnered with companies such as FirstBank and Germaine Autos to ease the barriers of car ownership for driver-partners and to provide valuable car maintenance and servicing plans.’’
Uriri listed mapping and traffic congestion as some of UBER’s challenges in Nigeria but said that the company was working hard daily to overcome challenges to ensure seamless experience.
UBER is a technology platform. The Uber app connects driver-partners and riders. Driver-partners use their own vehicles to pick up riders and drive them to their destinations and are paid for each completed trip.
UBER was founded in March 2009 in San Francisco, California, U.S..