A Bolt driver has sparked discussion online after recounting how a passenger allegedly made him spend about 35 minutes travelling to a pickup location and waiting, only to cancel the ride after he arrived.
The driver shared his frustration in a post circulating on X, saying he drove for about 15 minutes to reach the passenger’s location.
According to him, he then waited another 20 minutes after arriving at the estate, only for the passenger to eventually cancel the trip.
The driver lamented the time and fuel he had spent on the cancelled ride, questioning why some Nigerians sometimes make situations more difficult for one another before turning around to blame political leaders.
“I’m a Bolt driver who drove for good 15 minutes to pick up a guy who made me wait for 20 minutes. After I arrived at the estate, he later cancelled the ride and now I am not happy,” he wrote.
He added, “Later we’ll be calling out president and governors, meanwhile we're the ones doing ourselves.”
The post generated reactions from social media users, with several people sympathising with the driver over the time and fuel allegedly lost during the episode.
Some commenters suggested that ride-hailing platforms should introduce automatic charges once drivers begin travelling towards a pickup location, arguing that drivers should not bear the cost of passengers who cancel after making them travel a significant distance.
Others pointed out that Bolt already has cancellation and waiting-time policies in some circumstances, including situations where a driver has arrived at the pickup point and waited beyond the applicable waiting period.
The incident has renewed online discussions about the experiences of ride-hailing drivers and passengers, particularly around cancellations, waiting times and the costs incurred before a trip actually begins.
While the driver's account has generated sympathy, the circumstances surrounding the passenger's cancellation were not independently established in the post.
The conversation also highlights a broader issue faced by gig-economy workers, whose earnings can be affected by time spent travelling to pickups, waiting for passengers and dealing with cancelled trips.
