HABRide Enters Lagos Market With Focus On Fare Transparency, Driver Earnings

Kehinde Adeleye

A new Nigerian mobility platform, HABRide, is set to enter Lagos’ competitive e hailing market in November 2026, with a business model focused on balancing affordable fares for passengers with sustainable earnings for drivers.

The platform, promoted by Otunba Hakeem Alobo Bakare, is positioning itself as a locally designed alternative to existing mobility services, with emphasis on fare transparency, route accuracy, driver profitability and safety.

The company’s planned entry comes at a time when rising fuel prices, vehicle maintenance, insurance and other operating costs continue to put pressure on transport operators, while higher fares are increasingly affecting commuters.

Alobo Bakare said HABRide is seeking to address some of these challenges through a pricing system designed around local market realities, particularly when journeys involve detours or changes in route.

The platform argues that inaccurate metering can leave drivers absorbing additional operating costs, while rigid fare structures can make trips more expensive for passengers.

Beyond pricing, HABRide plans to offer multiple ways for users to book rides, including its mobile application, WhatsApp and a one tap ride dispatch system.

Through its WhatsApp booking service, users will be able to request rides through a chatbot, share their location and have the system identify and dispatch the nearest available driver.

The company is also developing a one tap booking feature for elderly passengers and people who may require emergency assistance. The system is expected to use GPS to identify the passenger’s location without requiring them to manually enter pickup and destination details.

Safety will also form a major part of HABRide’s offering.

The platform plans to make Know Your Customer verification mandatory for drivers and provide real time tracking for rides.

Its proposed emergency system will include a panic button capable of triggering audio and video recording, alerting emergency services and notifying a passenger’s nominated emergency contact.

HABRide is also exploring low data and offline booking options, which could make its services more accessible to users in areas with weak or inconsistent internet connectivity.

The company’s plans extend beyond conventional passenger transportation.

HABRide intends to accommodate different categories of vehicles, including passenger cars, dispatch motorcycles and pickup vans, allowing the platform to operate across ride hailing, courier services and logistics.

For drivers, the company said it plans to introduce empowerment initiatives and pursue partnerships aimed at creating additional employment opportunities.

It is also considering hire purchase arrangements that could improve drivers’ access to electric vehicles as the transport sector searches for alternatives to rising fuel and vehicle operating costs.

Another feature under development is a digital wallet that would allow passengers to pre fund transportation expenses and automate ride payments.

HABRide said relatives living abroad could also fund the wallets of family members in Nigeria, including elderly passengers, potentially creating a new way for people in the diaspora to support transportation needs at home.

However, the platform will face the familiar challenges associated with entering the highly competitive e hailing industry.

HABRide will need to attract enough drivers to ensure short waiting times and competitive fares, while also building a strong passenger base capable of providing drivers with consistent demand.

Its ability to maintain an attractive pricing structure while protecting driver earnings and achieving financial sustainability will also be critical to its success.

With Lagos serving as Nigeria’s largest market for technology enabled mobility services, the November launch is expected to put HABRide’s promises around affordability, safety, driver empowerment and technology to an early test.

The company’s entry could further intensify competition in Lagos’ e hailing sector, particularly around fares, driver incentives, safety and locally tailored mobility solutions.