Bolt has suspended multiple accounts in connection with the “request in Nigeria Challenge,” which was created by South Africans who requested rides in Nigeria and then cancelled them once the driver arrived at the pickup location.
(The Post News)- Ride-hailing service Bolt has blocked many accounts associated with the prank, in which users request false rides and then cancel after the driver accepts.
The ride-hailing app has also restricted intercountry ride requests in response to a practice that has mostly affected Bolt users in South Africa and Nigeria.
South Africans and Nigerians have renewed their online rivalry, surprising many, because of a trend started by South Africans branded as the ‘Request in Nigeria Challenge’.
South Africans would request phoney rides to prank Nigerian Bolt drivers and then cancel the request when the driver arrived at the pick-up spot in this ‘challenge’.
Nigerians responded by pranking South African Bolt drivers.
On Thursday, August 22, social media users began posting screenshots showing South Africans ordering phoney Bolt rides to Nigeria.
However, the alleged challenge quickly grew as Nigerian Bolt users began returning the favours, with numerous users uploading images of their bogus ride requests in South Africa via X.
According to an article written by Osamu Ekhator on Techpoint Africa, Nigerian Bolt Country Manager Yahaya Mohammed revealed that Bolt is aware of the South African and Nigerian individuals who are making fraudulent requests.
Mohammed acknowledged that Bolt had resolved the issue, emphasising that the integrity of their platform for both driver-partners and riders is their top priority.
The online rivalry between the two countries is purportedly linked to a recent conflict, which arose after beauty pageant Chidimma Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition and accepted an invitation to partake in the Miss Universe Nigeria contest.
Adetshina withdrew from Miss South Africa due to controversies surrounding her citizenship.
The ongoing prank trend has resulted in disruption to Bolt’s services, leading to Bolt’s swift action in blocking accounts and restricting intercountry ride requests to safeguard the integrity of its platform.
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