Leading ride-hailing company, Bolt, has reaffirmed that all drivers on its platform, including those in the economy category, are required to use air conditioning (AC) during trips.
This clarification follows confusion stemming from a message by Bolt’s Support team, which suggested that AC usage in economy rides is optional.
In a Statement, Bolt Nigeria General Manager, Osi Oguah, emphasized that there has been no official change to the company’s policy on air conditioning. “Bolt maintains a standard policy requiring all drivers across all ride categories, including the economy class, to use air conditioning during trips unless a rider specifically requests otherwise.
We strive to ensure a comfortable experience for all our passengers,” Oguah stated. The clarification came after a response from Bolt’s support team on the company’s app indicated otherwise.
The support team had stated, “Air conditioning (AC) is not guaranteed on economy rides as these rides are designed to be more budget-friendly with basic services.”
The message sparked concerns among riders who prefer air-conditioned rides for comfort. Despite Bolt’s official stance, a growing number of ride-hailing drivers in Nigeria have been switching off their ACs to cut costs.
Many drivers argue that the low fares on economy ride options make it financially unsustainable to run AC during trips.