Tech company Uber has announced that UberX, its low-cost ride is now available to Lagos residents via the Uber app. Innovation Village gathered that a soft launch for UberX was done in December to test the service, now the product is being fully introduced and officially launched.
In a statement, the company said UberX is a safe, reliable and flexible alternative to urban transportation in Lagos.
To book an Uber ride, users must download the free application (available on Android, iPhone and Blackberry 7 mobile devices), or register for Uber at www.uber.com/go and follow the instructions. The rider sees their driver’s photo, name, registration plate and rating before the car arrives. Providing them with all the information they need to ensure a safe and secure ride.
The uberX ride is typically a Toyota Camry, Kia Cerato, Hyundai Elantra or Honda Accord with a base fare of N500, N10 per minute and N110 per kilometer. Uber is a completely cashless system, meaning an Uber rider’s fare is charged automatically and electronically to their credit or debit card, protecting both riders and drivers, and ensuring that all payments are traceable.
Uber rides have a GPS tracking system which sees where the rider is on the map, making pickup more efficient than alternate means of transportation. Riders also have access to a live GPS-enabled map throughout their journey and can share this with a third party – such as family, partners or friends – who can track their progress to their destination.
Commenting on the service, Ebi Atawodi, General Manager, Uber Lagos stated “People are changing the way they connect with their cities and get around, and we feel Uber is a big part of this revolution. We believe Nigerians should be allowed more choice in the way they travel and with uberX, we now offer unrivalled value for getting around Lagos safely and securely, at the touch of a button.”
She further stated that “To ensure that Uber riders receive the highest quality rides and reliability, all partner drivers have to have a driver institute card and commercial insurance before they are allowed to drive on the Uber system. Further all our drivers are vetted by the Uber team, making Uber the safest way to get around.”
The introduction of the service to the Nigerian market has created a positive impact in the job market as an avenue for potential drivers to partner with Uber thus creating flexibility in their schedule and earnings.
Also available in Lagos is UberBlack; the high-end luxury Uber, riders in Nigeria can also use the Uber application when they travel to any other city in the world that Uber operates in.
