Stakeholders from about nine different e-hailing service groups on Thursday 14, April 2022 applauded the new entrance of T Bobo Zoomryder into the ride-hailing app already existing in the country.
The meeting held in Lagos was intended to give room for brainstorming on the various challenges faced by drivers in the e-hailing services and how such challenges can be resolved and improved upon to deliver better services to riders.
T bobo a ride-hailing app is designed to be the easiest means of transportation for moving around cities having considered the risk and challenges both the riders and drivers experience.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Sanya Falusi, who stood in for the MD/CEO of the ZoomRyder multinational company, Mr Babatunde Sakiru Balogun, said that ride-hailing app T bobo is an innovative way of transportation.
He said the company is coming with the intention of bridging the gap created by already existing ride-hailing services in Nigeria. With the intention of using Lagos as a test run for other states in the country.
Specifically, he said T bobo will make transportation outwardly appealing, by ensuring a clean vehicle that is in great condition, with trained drivers, assured security and safety which is achievable with the aid of installed safety device in the vehicle solely for the safety of the rider and the driver.
Explaining, he said the camera will be operational 24/7 and it starts recording the minute the driver starts the trip. This will mainly be useful when the need arises for police investigation.
Having considered the financial circumstances including the road network, he said T bobo will attract a highly competitive rate that will accommodate any financial circumstances of the rider and the driver respectively.
Being an interactive session, stakeholders who are mainly drivers stressed mainly on security and also welfare package. They wanted to know what plan the company has that is different from other already existing functional companies.
Mr Kay Agbeyegbe a leader of one of the nine groups in attendance said its not enough that the company plans to install dashboard cameras but what are they putting in place in terms of security for the drivers against criminally-minded riders and also the government officials on the road.
Another speaker added that due to different happenings in the country Lagos state has come up with more stringent conditions for drivers in other to protect riders. As such, has the company met all conditions laid down by the state government which is believed will aid their doing business with them?
Mrs Victoria Omotayo of Ladies on wheel advised that the company should look into what can be done to resolve the fake alert they normally experience with customers. She asked if the company can provide a form of insurance to cover them in the event of such.
Mr Ibrahim of one voice group appealed to the company to put into consideration a form, of MOU between the company and the drivers which in turn will give them a sense of belonging when it comes to taking certain decisions that will affect them such as reducing their charges while they retain their own commission. He accused other existing companies of being guilty, leaving them out when vital decisions are taken.
Mr. Yusuf Olawale, on the other hand, echoed the thought of the majority as regards comprehensive details of riders to be taken. This he said will make them more responsible and not go away with their money, as default could attract them to be blacklisted from using the app.
Adding his voice, Mr. John Legend said at this juncture the company should raise a team to engage the drivers by taking down their details while the bank Fidelity gives out forms for them to have an account with them.
However, the company assured the drivers that they are their main priority as they have mouth-watery incentives that will make them feel more relaxed doing business with them.
One of the welfare packages of the company is to make available accessible soft loans for the drivers. Others include being your own boss by setting time off work, flexible terms of payment (daily, weekly or monthly) and fully paid driver training opportunities, also, access to a dedicated business developer to assist the driver on how to improve performance and set out a strategy that can increase income. Driver welfare support, a rating that attracts a bonus, spare part, and repairs support plan and a highly competitive rate.
