Nigeria’s Uber version, Nairaxi to empower 5,000 drivers in FCT
By Abun Kalat Abuja
Nigeria has launched its version of Uber, called Nairaxi with a target to empower 5,000 drivers in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT with new fleets of cars for on-demand rides.
Nairaxi Co-founder/CEO Kingsley Eze said that the company will also engage over 20,000 persons mostly youths in the country.
Nairaxi Transport and Logistics Nigeria Limited is an on-demand mobility, electronic commerce and logistics company to make mobility, goods and services safe, accessible, convenient, affordable and sustainable through the use of smart technology.
Eze announced this during a training and workshop conference with the theme: “On-demand Mobility Service a Vehicle for Sustainable Development in Nigeria,” for nairaxi of drivers in Abuja.
According to him, nairaxi will change the narrative in the transport sector in Nigeria, and it will safe Nigeria over $2bn annually.
“We targeting 5,000 drivers that will become potential car owner through our first of its kind DRIVE-TO-OWN program when we launch our service in Abuja in the coming weeks.
“Over 2500 drivers have been successfully signed by our start-up company since the start of October. On-demand service is currently on t’ rise and Nairaxi has designed a road map that will make them stand tall in the ever-growing on-demand market.
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“This serves as an avenue to interact with potential drivers, investors and relevant stakeholders. They also elucidated the drivers that have indicated an interest in serving their ride-service on-demand to customers about the company’s philosophy, the app and other incentives,” he said.
According to the CEO, ”Our mobile app official main launch is scheduled for 26th of January 2020.
He added: “Our App: NAIRAXI – is a hybrid mobile app that combines mobility, electronic commerce and logistics seamlessly on a single platform, In a nutshell, a user can request a ride, shop for anything everything and send, receive, track parcels on the app.
”Just imagine having Amazon, Uber and FedEx combined in one single value chain specially adapted for the Nigerian $1.6 billion market ecosystem.”
Elizabeth Omale, Co-founder and CFO of the company said nairaxi is a Nigerian brand of Uber and will take over the e-commerce and logistic business.
Key speaker at the workshop, Lucy Mhii, Deputy Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FIRS) cautioned the drivers against over speed.
She urged them to adhere strictly to the driving rules, avoid taking alcohol before or while driving and to respect other drivers as well as other road users.
President of Abuja Painted Taxi, Comrade Shehu Shugaba Yar’adua said that Uber and Taxify are operating illegally in the nation’s capital Abuja revealing that they are not licensed, operators.
He said, “the operation of Uber, Taxify in the FCT is illegal and they know it because they are not one of the licensed operators.”
Yar’adua commended Nairaxi for launching Nigeria’s version of Uber and Taxify saying there partnership with the company will enable the Painted Abuja Taxi to migrate from analogue to digital system.
He said: “We made them understand that there is what is called FCT licensed operators’ scheme. It’s not everybody that will come and start operating taxi in the FCT without following the law.
The way the system works that if you have your transport company it is expected of you to obtain a license from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) which will qualify you to operate.
What encourages us to partner with Nairaxi is because of the empowerment – most of our drivers over the years have been driving for people and they don’t have a car of their own.
So we want investors that will buy a car and give to our drivers so that at the end of the day they can become car owners.
