Healthy competition key to improved affordable e-hailing services -Operators

…Wheela goes live March 1

Operators of e-hailing services have advocated a healthy competition in the transport/e-hailing sector.

They said weekend in Abuja that such intervention will make the operators to offer improved and affordable transport services to customers in FCT and across the country.

Victor Jolly Eyo, a Strategic Communications Expert and a brand Ambassador, stated this at the launch of Wheela, a new e-hailing platform expected to revolutionize e-hailing system in Nigeria.

According to him, the idea behind Wheela was to bridge the huge gap identified in providing quality and affordable transport services to both drivers and customers across the country.

“The era of e-hailing services being the exclusive right of some class of people in the society is gone. Wheela was conceived and designed to serve every class of people in the society particularly those in underserved locations,” Eyo said.

He described Wheela as a game-changer that will empower registered drivers to make more profit in a secured and innovative e-hailing platform, and also provide affordable transport cost for all class of people in Nigeria.

He said, “Unlike in similar platforms, Wheela will give the drivers the exclusive right to decide how they operate as against the experience in other platforms. Wheela operate on hourly, daily, monthly, or annual subscription basis. For instance, a driver can decide to pay N2000 for a day, and make as much money he or she could make depending on his or her strength and commitment to work.”

He confirmed that Wheela is deploying advanced security features on the platform for both the drivers and passengers, and encouraged all interested drivers across the country, and other stakeholders to buy-in and participate in the reformist e-hailing services.

Also, the Country Manager of the Company, Osadinazu Precious, told journalists that the journey to the launch and operation of Wheela e-hailing platform started some years ago, adding that thorough research, scientific and otherwise, was done to arrive at this point that drivers and passengers would enjoy the world class experiences in e-hailing services.

“Nevertheless, we will continue to improve on whatever we have to ensure pleasant experience, and pocket-friendly platform for passengers, and enriching opportunity for drivers,” he said.

He assured consumers of adequate security in all their engagements and interactions with Wheela e-hailing platform which will be live beginning from March 1st, 2026.

Head of Business Development of the Company, Zainab Oyiza Muhammad, in her remarks, assured customer of quality experience riding on Wheela e-hailing platform.

She also said the system has been designed to accommodate whatever complaints the passengers and drivers might have, and also offer the relevant solution as quickly as possible.

She further disclosed that they have made a provision for interested drivers of motorbikes, different cars, trucks, tricycles, and other means of transportation to get enlisted and register to participate.

Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) led by David Amune, confirmed that the drivers have bought into the idea because of its uniqueness and enrichment opportunities for the drivers.

“In other platforms, we pay about 30 per cent or 40 per cent of our income as commission. It has not been easy for us parting with such huge amount. But Wheela has come up with different approach which is more friendly to us. To this end, we are pitching our tent to it.

“We have began to talk to our customers/passengers about it, and a few of them agreed and appreciate the innovations that it has brought. We pray they sustain it and even bring more profit-making opportunities for the drivers,” Amune said.