People in Nigeria and South Africa, two big countries in Africa, are fighting on the internet. They are dragging Bolt and Uber drivers into this fight.
The hashtag #BoltforBolt came about because of this online fight. It had 33,000 mentions by Thursday afternoon on August 22, 2024. The hashtag #SouthAfricans had even more mentions, about 84,000 and counting.
This fight started because Chidinma Adetshina, a former Miss South Africa contest participant who is now in Nigeria for the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, posted something online that upset people.
South Africans started making trouble first. They would book rides from Nigerian Bolt and Uber drivers and then cancel them, leaving drivers stuck without any passengers. Nigerians then did the same thing back to South African drivers.
Videos showing South Africans doing mean things to Nigerians went viral. This made Nigerians even more angry, and they decided to fight back using social media.
Different people have different ideas about what this fight will mean for Bolt and Uber drivers in both countries who are just trying to work and earn money. Newslodge put together some reactions to this “Bolt for Bolt” challenge.
Reactions
Daniel Regha
I hope you, South Africans and Nigerians, know that these Bolt drivers are just people who are trying to make a living. You are not only wasting their time and money, but also making things hard for people who really need those rides. This is not a joke; it’s really sad.
Hope u South Africans & Nigerians realize that these bolt drivers are people who are trying to make ends meet; Y’all are not only wasting their time plus money, but also inconveniencing people who really need their services. This is not a game, it’s sickening.
— Daniel Regha (@DanielRegha) August 22, 2024
Oiza
This “Bolt challenge” between Nigerians and South Africans is annoying because innocent Bolt drivers are getting hurt. Just imagine trying to earn your daily bread, and then some people turn it into a joke on Twitter.
This bolt challenge that’s going on between Nigerians and South Africans is annoying because innocent bolt drivers are suffering for it. Imagine looking for your daily meal and some people are using it to play on twitter.
— Oiza (@Steadi_lady) August 22, 2024
Ebele
If you are in Nigeria, what you can do is to report the South Africans’ accounts doing this. Tell your Uber friends and drivers to call/text before going to pick someone up. And also, remember our government for making it hard for us so that jobless people can treat us like this.
What you can do as a Nigerian in Nigeria is to report the accounts of the South Africans doing this en masse, tell your Uber friends & drivers to call/text before heading to pick up & face your government for putting us in the position where other jobless fools can do this to us.
— Ebele (@ebelee_) August 22, 2024
@Irunnia
South Africans playing games with Uber will not stop until they fix the app. Nigerians are not the people you want to play games with. If you go low, they will go lower and they won’t give up!
This game South Africans are playing with Uber will never stop until they fix that app. Nigerians are the last people you want to play this kind of games with. If you go low, they will always go lower and they will never stop!
— IRUNNIA (@Irunnia_) August 22, 2024
@Divineofspring
This week, my advice for all Uber and Bolt drivers in Nigeria is: 1. When you get a booking, call the person and listen to their accent. 2. Ask them local questions. 3. If possible, follow up with a call to South Africans.
This week, my advice to all Uber and Bolt drivers in Nigeria is:
1. When you get a booking, call the person who booked the ride and pay attention to their accent.
2. Ask them some questions using local terms and slangs.
3. If possible, follow up with a direct call.South Africans https://t.co/QqpdaMAaC2
— DivineOffspring (@Divineofspring) August 22, 2024
Mbah
South Africans think they are being smart, but they did not let Nigerians know. Nigerians, let’s rise! Bolt for Bolt!
South Africans think they’re petty they were not informed😂 Nigerians Arise!!!! Bolt for Bolt pic.twitter.com/PMcAyqH8fM
— MBAH (@Mbahdeyforyou) August 22, 2024
Adeyinka Adeife
Bolt and Uber will be surprised by the big jump in their app traffic today. They will think drivers are making money. They won’t know it’s because of this online war between Nigerians and South Africans.
Bolt and Ubers will be surprised at the large influx of traffic to their app today. They will think drivers are making sales. They won’t know it’s a result of an E-war between Naija and Southy.
— Passenger (@adeyinka_adeife) August 22, 2024