Uber is set to introduce a new transportation option – UberBus – for customers in Lagos, the most populous city in Africa.
This was confirmed by Uber’s general manager for sub-Saharan Africa Alon Lits in a discussion with Quartz Africa at the recently concluded World Economic Forum in South Africa.
This would be the second African city after its launch in Cairo in December 2018.
A couple of months ago, Uber’s Chief Business Officer, Brooks Entwistle in an interview with Reuters in Lagos, had said that he held discussions with a bus firm and regulators in the city. And that the talks were in line with a global push by the company to develop products that can work alongside public transit systems.
Entwistle said the combination of population growth and congestion made Lagos, and other cities in the region, attractive.
UberBus will have to contend with the likes of Egyptian Bus hailing service, Swvl who has indicated that it would be launching Nigeria soon and Opay’s OBus who has just launched in Lagos.
“I think the bus will prove to be a game-changer for Lagos and is obviously very much needed,” Lits said. He also added city officials were “excited” by the prospects of partnership. “It is a longer-term engagement but it is something we are willing to do and I think grateful for the willingness on the other side.”
