Ride-hailing platform Bolt has opened a direct safety dialogue with passengers in Nigeria, hosting its first-ever Passenger Safety Meet & Greet in Lagos recently to address concerns and strengthen trust in the country’s growing mobility sector.

The event, the first of its kind globally for the company, brought together passengers, drivers, regulators, Bolt Business clients, media, lifestyle influencers and members of the Bolt team for an open forum on safety and trust in ride-hailing.

The forum featured unscripted conversations where passengers shared real-life experiences, expressed concerns and proposed solutions. Issues raised included data privacy, rider verification processes, fare disputes and air-conditioning etiquette in the Economy category.

Some passengers voiced worries over drivers taking screenshots of personal information within the app and urged Bolt to introduce stronger privacy safeguards comparable to banking security standards.

Director of Public Transport Commuter Services, Engr Adebayo Olusoji, delivered a keynote address emphasising the need for collaboration between operators, regulators and users. He stressed that continuous education, policy enforcement and community engagement were vital to improving urban mobility safety.

Bolt showcased its safety features, including trip sharing, audio trip recording, rider and driver verification, an emergency assist button, in-trip insurance and 24/7 customer support. The company urged both drivers and passengers to use these tools to enhance safety during trips.

Head of Regulatory and Policy at Bolt, Weyinmi Aghadiuno, said the initiative was about placing people at the centre of the safety conversation.

“This isn’t just about enforcing platform rules; it’s about co-creating solutions that reflect the real experiences of riders and drivers. Today’s forum shows that when we listen, learn and act together, we can build a more respectful and secure ride-hailing experience for all,” Aghadiuno said.

An interactive role-play session allowed drivers and passengers to dramatise common points of tension, from payment disputes to service expectations, sparking discussions on empathy, respect and communication.

The event marks the start of Bolt’s wider nationwide engagement strategy aimed at building a people-first, inclusive and responsive ride-hailing ecosystem across Nigeria.