Country manager of ride-hailing platform, Uber, Tope Akinwumi has revealed that the mission of the platform is to be everywhere in the country. This is coming after launching Uber Connect, an on-demand courier service that provides business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) delivers to residents in Lagos.
Akinwumi who joined Uber Nigeria as Country Manager in February explained that with the launch of Uber Connect, the mission is to be everywhere. Uber Connect matches people that want to move goods from one place to the other with independent motorcycle owners, as long as they meet all of the conditions required to operate a delivery business.
Uber claims the new service offers a cost-effective and contactless delivery solution for individuals and businesses.With Lagos as its primary place, Akinwumi explained that instead of cars, Uber’s intentions were to use bikes instead of four-wheeled vehicles used in countries such as Ghana and South Africa. He also added that goods such as alcohol, recreational drugs, firearms, or other forms of dangerous and illegal items are prohibited. Goods valued at more than ₦50,000 are also not allowed.
Akinwumi sees Uber Connect as an enabler of e-commerce in Nigeria. “Logistics infrastructure is a huge pillar for any e-commerce,” he said.
For now, Uber Connect is available only in Lagos. In the medium to long term, the company plans to expand the service into other cities in Nigeria. “Our mission is to be everywhere,” he said.
Uber Connect’s delivery fleet and partners are “growing every day” and the company has the “right number of couriers” to serve the whole of Lagos, according to Akinwumi.
The launch of Uber Connect on cars is also a possibility at some point, he says, adding that the company is “open to all possibilities”.
After launching Uber Connect in Nigeria, country manager Tope Akinwumi eyes nationwide expansion as Nigeria similar to other markets in sub-Saharan Africa such as Kenya and Uganda.
