Business News of Tuesday, 1 July 2025
Source: www.punchng.com
InDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, has hosted its second Safety Education Summit, bringing together regulators, government agencies, and industry experts to chart a path forward for safer urban mobility through technology and collaboration.
Held in Lagos, the summit served as a platform for constructive dialogue on how digital innovation, data sharing, and multi-stakeholder partnerships can strengthen protections for both drivers and passengers across the country.
According to a representative of the company, Timothy Oladimeji, inDrive has prioritised safety by embedding protective features into its platform and driving user education efforts.
“We believe safety is a shared responsibility, but as a company, we have made it a top priority,” said Oladimeji.
He added, “Our ‘Pick a Driver’ feature, for example, allows users to choose their preferred driver based on ratings, vehicle information, and proximity, giving them more control and peace of mind.”
Oladimeji added that beyond technological safeguards, there remains a significant need for greater awareness among users about existing safety tools, as well as continuous collaboration with regulatory bodies to maintain high standards.
Representing the Commissioner for Transportation in Lagos State, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the Director in Charge of Public Transport and Computer Services, Adebayo Olusoji, emphasised the critical role of regulatory synergy in creating a safer transport ecosystem.
“InDrive’s effort to empower users, such as enabling them to share trip details and access driver information, is commendable,” said Olusoji.
He continued, “At the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, we are leveraging technology to improve transport safety, and we believe stronger inter-agency coordination and unified regulatory standards are key to moving forward.”
Government Relations Specialist at InDrive, Ms MaryAnne Momoh-Ige, underscored the importance of structured data integration between the private and public sectors to improve accountability.
She praised Lagos State for leading the charge on API integration, which has enhanced data exchange between the state government and ride-hailing platforms, a model now being explored by other Nigerian states.
“Jurisdictions like Kenya already require companies to submit data on banned or suspended drivers,” Momoh-Ige noted. “We believe Nigeria can develop a robust framework for data sharing that ensures only verified and compliant drivers are active on platforms.”
“We are tapping into transport data from companies like InDrive to identify high-risk areas and implement more targeted road safety campaigns,” said Ologun. “These insights will help us reduce traffic incidents and improve compliance.”
Ologun also introduced the FRSC mobile application, which enables the public to verify vehicle documentation, report road safety violations, and trigger emergency alerts to nearby commands for quicker response times.
As the summit concluded, participants agreed on the importance of stakeholder collaboration, enhanced policy enforcement, and public awareness to address safety concerns in the digital mobility space.
InDrive reiterated its commitment to building a platform that prioritises safety alongside affordability and accessibility, calling on industry peers and government agencies to align efforts in creating a safer future for urban transportation in Nigeria.