InDrive, a ride-hailing service active in nine African countries, is rolling out a bank transfer feature in Nigeria.
The feature, dubbed “Light Cashless,” enables drivers to display their preferred bank account details within the app, allowing passengers to copy and paste the information for direct payment.
InDrive announced this addition on February 5, 2025.
Read also: InDrive expands in Zimbabwe, adds courier services
“Light Cashless” feature
This new feature supports bank transfers on the app without needing integration or an in-app payment mechanism.
An InDrive spokesperson clarified that there is no payment gateway integration, emphasising it is simply a copy-and-paste mechanism for drivers to display their preferred accounts on their profile.
According to PYMNTS, a recent study showed that 41 per cent of rideshare customers preferred bank transfers.
Jolaiya Moses, the national treasurer for the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), stated, “It is the same as a card trip. The feature only benefits InDrive”.
Another driver, an executive of AUATON, mentioned that the distance between ride-hailing companies and drivers has widened due to a breach of trust, potentially affecting the number of drivers willing to use the feature.
They added, “The app (InDrive) does not make themselves available for most of our issues and concerns; they are practically invisible to us.”
Read also: Kenyan ride-hailing drivers demand fair pay
Challenges in the ride-hailing sector
The ride-hailing sector in Nigeria is currently facing multiple challenges. Rising fuel and maintenance costs have pushed drivers to demand higher fares, while passengers, due to macroeconomic pressures, seek cheaper alternatives.
This situation has created a delicate balance for companies like Bolt, Uber, and InDrive as they manage rider churn and driver dissatisfaction.
AUATON has argued with Bolt, Uber, and inDrive over excessive commission rates and promotional incentives that cut drivers’ earnings in recent weeks.
Bolt cut prices by 50 per cent last Monday to increase demand for its platform, and drivers said they would protest.
Despite these issues, InDrive is exploring innovative solutions. The company spokesperson mentioned that the new feature can be enabled following the latest app update. InDrive has 240 million app downloads across 48 countries and 888 cities.
InDrive moved to the United States in 2023 and operates in 749 cities across 46 countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Ghana, Namibia, and South Africa.