Bolt stops ‘inter-country’ racing after Nigeria-South Africa dispute

Online taxi company Bolt has restricted “inter-country” requests between Nigeria and South Africa after the two countries’ social media rivalry hit an all-time high – or low – with people booking and then cancelling rides in the other country as a prank.

The drivers were pawns in this malicious game as they were sent on a mad chase to find passengers who were not even in the same country.

Munyaradzi Chinyama, a Zimbabwean driver for Bolt based in Cape Town, told the BBC he received three ride requests before realising they were not genuine. He said he had wasted a lot of fuel, time and money.

Bolt told the BBC that he had identified and blocked users taking part in the cruel game.

“We understand the impact this situation has had on our driver partners in Nigeria and South Africa,” he said in a statement.

She said inter-country requests would still work between other countries.

Mr Chinyama told the BBC he had been inundated with abusive messages via the Bolt messaging feature which connects drivers and passengers.

He said he had been called various names, including “Mandela’s son”.

It’s unclear exactly how this “Bolt War” began, but social media users from sub-Saharan Africa’s two largest economies have a long history of trolling each other.

“When I am bored, I ask (Bolt) to come to Nigeria because their brothers are disrespecting us,” one user posted on X on Tuesday. This seems to have set off the chain of events and Nigerians were quick to hit back.

A disgruntled Nigerian driver based in Kano told the BBC he had received an order for a ride to the airport from an international number but the person had failed to show up.

“I tried calling again and again, but they didn’t answer. Then they cancelled the trip,” he said.

He said he was not the only victim. Many of his colleagues faced similar problems.

Some social media users rallied behind the drivers, saying they were simply trying to make a living.

“Uber and Bolt drivers are just trying to make ends meet. They are not on Twitter to troll anyone. They are literally trying to make an honest living. Please leave them alone. And I speak to both sides,” wrote one X user.

A second person said: “The bolt challenge hurts me because it’s innocent, hardworking people on both sides who are suffering from the meanness and recklessness of others. It’s really unfair.”

Fuel prices in Nigeria have skyrocketed in recent months, with many motorists reportedly wasting their scarce fuel by picking up non-existent customers.

The “bolt war” is also said to have caused fares to rise in both countries, leaving many people stranded because they could not afford to pay for their rides.

South Africans and Nigerians often clash on social media.

They recently rowed on the Controversy over Miss South Africa which saw a candidate of Nigerian origin withdraw following xenophobic abuse.

The two African heavyweights also pitted their pop stars Tyla and Arya Starr against each other and exchanged insults about their national football teams.