Public Transportation Insecurities In Lagos(Nigeria): Can We Be Careful While Booking e-hailing?

Transportation Anxiety & Fear 

As the days go by in Nigeria, there’s increased anxiety over using public transportation. Many Nigerians grow more fearful of travelling publicly, and it’s almost as though there’s no end in sight. 

While this is a general challenge in Nigeria, this heightened anxiety is more prevalent in certain cities like Lagos, the country’s largest commercial hub. On several occasions, many Nigerians have taken to social media to recount one gruesome story or another. It’s a story of many folds—robbery, kidnapping, rape, or killing. 

These stories ignite fear in the minds of both old and young Nigerians. And while travelling in our private cars is not a privilege every Nigerian enjoys, the question becomes, how can we become a bit careful while hailing e-rides? To offer some person-based solution(s), we’ve provided you with recommended tips on safely using e-rides in Nigeria.

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Person-Based Safety Measures For Using E-rides In Lagos(Nigeria)

When there are no system-based solutions to curbing this growing transportation issue in Nigeria, here are some safety measures we can adopt when using e-rides.

• Confirm The Face Of The Driver: A recurring story most e-ride victims tell is that the picture on the app is different from the driver. Always ensure that the driver looks the same as the picture on the app. It’s easy to trace the driver in case of any incident.
• Verify & Take Note Of The Plate Number: Once your ride arrives, note down the vehicle’s plate number and share it with friends/family. 
• Ensure The Inner Handle Of The Car Is Intact: Avoid continuing a ride in a vehicle with a broken inner handle. The inner handle must be intact for emergency exit. Discontinue any ride if the handle(s) is missing. It’s a red flag and must not be ignored.
• Make Sure The Child-Lock Function is Not Activated: Now, what’s a vehicle child-lock function? It’s a security function that most vehicles come with; it only allows the door to be opened using the outer handle. Verify this immediately your ride arrives. If the driver isn’t cooperating, discontinue the ride.
• Share Your Ride Details: With the level of transportation insecurity in the country, every safety measure is essential. Share your ride information with your trusted friends or family. This way, they have an idea of your whereabouts in case of necessity.
• Share Rides With People: If you can, share rides with others. Sharing rides comes with benefits like reduced price and having a third party aside from you and the driver. 
• Make Calls And Inform People Of Your Whereabout: This is closely related to sharing your ride details but slightly different. Here, while making calls during the ride, you’re also informing the driver that you’re at alert. It reduces the chances of shifty activities because now, they know that others know about the ride. Most people also make video calls to capture the driver. 

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Conclusion 

Of course, we cannot be 100% alert to transportation insecurities in Nigeria. But, to an extent, we can take charge of our safety while on a public vehicle.