Bolt to implement compulsory rider NIN verification in Nigeria by year-end 2025
Ride-hailing company Bolt plans to make it mandatory for all passengers in Nigeria to provide their National Identification Number (NIN) by the end of 2025.
This important policy change aims to significantly improve platform safety and is reportedly being pursued as an industry standard.
At a recent press conference in Lagos, Weyinmi Aghadiuno, Bolt’s Senior Public Policy Manager, announced the initiative. Negotiations are already in progress with authorities and drivers’ unions to establish this as a cross-industry standard.
To maintain a consistent strategy across all ride-hailing services, Aghadiuno emphasised that active discussions are ongoing with key regulatory bodies, including the Lagos State Government and the Ministry of Transport, as well as drivers’ unions.
“This is something we’ve been pushing for, not just on our own, but with the union,” Aghadiuno said. “We’re actively discussing with the Lagos State Government and the Ministry of Transport, and passengers will start hearing more about it later this year.”
This move directly addresses long-standing requests from drivers for enhanced safety features. Incidents such as the murders of e-hailing drivers in Abuja and Port Harcourt in 2023 have underscored the urgent need for thorough passenger identity verification.
