Cab business in Lagos a mega city with population of 17.5million is presently experiencing an all time high with new companies making a dive into the overtly lucrative sector. These players are not smiling and have not come to sell pepper, like crocs and sharks, all are looking to out smart each other with quality services albeit leveraging technology while biting off as much as they can chew.
Now these guys are presently disrupting the market for the older generation cab business men who crazily hike their fares while taking you for a ride in a rickety jalopy with out air-condition or good shock absorbers in most cases. It is never a good experience to ride in one of these old taxis especially if you are one who seeks ultimate comfort at all times but then when situation presents itself and there are no optional means of transport especially during late night movements, you have no choice but to bend your pride or taste and pay the exorbitant fare.
1. AfroCab
AfroCab was founded in 2012, to facilitate better transportation services in some of Nigerias growing cities. Their free smartphone app connects passengers directly with taxi drivers allowing customers to book with certainty every time. Afrocab enables better transportation modes and places pricing for the service in the hands of the customer, while improving productivity for drivers taxi drivers, car hire companies and private drivers.
2. Uber
For Uber, its all about style and budget, from SUVs to exotic saloon cars. By seamlessly connecting riders to drivers through mobile apps, they make cities more accessible, opening up more possibilities for riders and more business for drivers. Uber was founded in 2009, and up till date has been launched in over 200 cities today, including Lagos Nigeria where they started their trial service around July. Ubers rapidly expanding global presence continues to bring people and their cities closer.
3. Easy Taxi
Easy Taxi is an on-demand car service whose mobile app connects taxi drivers directly to passengers enabling them get more rides. Created in Nigeria in 2013, the service is also present in over 27 countries. The app lets you hail a licensed taxi in just one click and boasts of being convenient, faster and operates on a system that runs 24-7.
4. Tranzit
Tranzit is a free web and mobile enabled transportation that enables you to locate interesting, or required places and events based on your location. It is also a delivery service. Tranzit puts people a few taps away from a licensed, vetted transportation and delivery pickup service. For drivers, it provides access to more passengers so they can make more money. This was also launched in 2013.
5. Metro Taxi
Metro Taxi is a metered Taxi service that guarantees you pay for what you use. Its operating system offers dispatch technology service, 24hours call centre, metered vehicles, tracking device and an Insurance cover for both passengers and drivers. It was launched in 2010.
6. Recabs
A modern taxi service, the Red Cab Service was launched in 2009 and has been transporting people at competitive rates ever since. With over 400 Red cabs in its fleet, it provides unbranded executive saloons, estate cars, minibuses, vans as well as luxury cars for corporate, group and VIP clientele.
7. Kabukabu
Kabukabu lets you enter the nearest pick up point to your home and office while the system matches with two other co-riders travelling on the same route. You also get to share the cab to your final destination and pay up to 70% less than normal taxi fares.
Presently the Lagos state government values new taxis and has continued to advice investors to go into this sector, but many older generation taxi drivers have accused the government of trying to run them out of business. I must also note that taxis are not yet a threat to the commuter buses, and I hope not, so that we do not have a squabble-like war like the Taxi wars in South Africa where players in the industry begin to exhibit mafia-like tactics anti-competitive Price Fixing against each other.
