Opera Mini’s Maker Has Launched a Motorbike-Hailing Service ‘ORide’ in Nigeria

Opera Software AS, developer of mobile web browser Opera Mini has launched a motorbike – hailing service in Nigeria called ORide. ORide will be making an entry into a fast-paced growing and busy space in the African ridesharing industry which already has the likes of Gokada and Max.ng both which have been taking great strides both financially and technically.

The web browser, Opera Mini was one of the pioneer browsers in Nigeria before the coming of rival web browsers like Firefox, Google Chrome, and UC Browser. Just last year the conglomerate also launched its first mobile payment service in West Africa called Opera Pay (Opay) formerly operated by Nigeria’s Telnet Group as PayCom, a company which Opera acquired a massive part of and rebranded to OPay.

Related story: Opera launches Opay, a web payment solution in Kenya

ORide is a solution to a myriad of transport challenges, particularly heavy traffic. The service offers flexible payment options including cash, card payment, and payment through the OPay app that allows riders to access promotional offerings.

Opay enables users to pay utility bills, purchase airtime and mobile data, top online accounts and do in-and-out transactions, all from a mobile app. OPay operates as a bank, and that helps users send and receive money to and from any Nigerian bank directly within the app.

The success of the fintech product has driven the Opera to unveil ORide. As part of its operations, the company has introduced an ORide section on the OPay app. According to reports, when users click on the ORide option, they are given a list of coupons to redeem to get free rides.

With initial operations kicking off in Lagos, the service has since expanded into other cities like Ibadan.

Opera’s head of global marketing and communications Jan Standal said, “We are definitely interested in more markets. There’s nothing preventing us from initiating an extension at any time.”

According to Iniabasi Akpan, Country Manager at Opay, “About 25-30% of the Nigerian adult population are uneducated, poor, and have little or no access to financial services. As a business, we exist to remove the barriers to financial services and access to a better quality of life for the underprivileged and the financially excluded.

Through our business operations, we provide opportunities for operators and users in the less formal and informal sector to access the tools, training, skills and finance they need for a better life leveraging the use of mobile phones and technology. ORide is just one of those channels we consider vital to achieving our goals of providing access to financial services and improving the quality of life of low-income families.

There are also several other social benefits of ORide which includes the potential to create more than 100,000 tax paying jobs, easing the movement of people and goods, and boosting commerce and entrepreneurship.”

A huge emphasis has been placed on driver training and safety. Several steps have been taken to ensure this.

Ridwan Olalere, Director of Product says “All ORide motorbike riders have been trained by safety professionals – our first training resulted in a 50% pass rate. We have then taken steps to hold a monthly class for the riders.

All ORide motorbikes come with a pre-adjusted speed limit of 60kmph. Also, the motorbikes have unique tracking devices attached to them and can be tracked online in real time”.

Opera’s Oride is entering a saturated and highly competitive motorbike ride-hailing Nigerian market. Recently, Gokada raised USD 5.3 Million to boost its operations and declared it has no intention of expanding beyond Nigeria. This in light signifies that the company has every intention to harness its resources to keep its tight grip on the Nigerian market. Aside from Gokada, ORide has the formidable Max.ng and other bike hailing startups to contend with.

OPay app can be downloaded on Google Play store or iOS app store.