Online taxi service Bolt has implemented restrictions on “inter-country” ride requests between Nigeria and South Africa following a surge in social media-fueled pranks where users booked rides in one country and canceled them from another as a joke. This online rivalry between the two nations has escalated, leaving drivers frustrated and out of pocket.
Drivers, like Munyaradzi Chinyama, a Zimbabwean Bolt driver based in Cape Town, were unknowingly caught up in the prank. Chinyama told the BBC he received three bogus ride requests, only to realize they were part of a cruel game. “I wasted a lot of fuel, time, and money,” he said.
Bolt responded to the situation by blocking users who were involved in the prank. “We understand the impact this has had on our driver-partners in Nigeria and South Africa,” the company stated, adding that inter-country requests remain available between other nations.
The prank has caused significant disruption, with drivers reporting an influx of insulting messages through Bolt’s communication system. Chinyama shared that he received derogatory comments, with one user calling him “Mandela’s son.”
The origin of this “Bolt war” is unclear, but social media rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa has a long history. The prank appears to have been sparked by a social media post, where a user from one country bragged about booking a ride in the other to “get back” at perceived disrespect.
Nigerian drivers, like one based in Kano, have also fallen victim to the prank, receiving fake requests from international numbers. “I tried calling the customer, but they didn’t answer, then canceled the trip,” he recounted, noting that many of his colleagues experienced similar issues.
The prank has not only wasted fuel—particularly in Nigeria, where fuel prices have soared—but also led to ride prices surging in both countries, leaving many unable to afford transportation.
While social media users in both countries often clash, some have rallied behind the drivers, calling for an end to the pranks. “Uber and Bolt drivers are just trying to make a living. They aren’t trolling anyone. Please leave them alone,” one user wrote on X. Another added, “The Bolt challenge is unfair because it’s the hardworking people who are suffering.”
This incident follows a series of online disputes between Nigerians and South Africans, including a recent controversy over the Miss South Africa pageant and ongoing debates over music and sports.
