LagRide Records 70% Growth, Accelerates Expansion With 100 New Captains, Targets 1,000 More by December
OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
LagRide Nigeria has recorded 70 per cent growth in its operations as the mobility company accelerates the expansion of its fleet and driver network across Lagos, deploying another 100 captains and setting a target to onboard 1,000 more by December 2026.
For LagRide, the numbers reflect a broader period of growth. The company is expanding the availability of vehicles, building its driver network and strengthening its operating capacity as demand for mobility services increases across Lagos.
Executive Director of LagRide Nigeria, Mrs. Mildred Ekanem, said the company is deliberately scaling its operations to ensure that the growth of the platform is matched by the availability of professionally trained captains.
“Today is wave four of our 1,000-driver deployment. We have deployed about another 100 drivers to join the Lagos fleet and satisfy Lagos consumers when it comes to e-hailing, general logistics and related services,” Ekanem said.
She said LagRide’s recruitment remains open to both men and women, with the company focused on creating economic opportunities while developing a new generation of professional drivers.
“LagRide is an open platform, and we are not selective of whether you are male or female. We deal with men and women. We are not gender-selective,” she said.
Beyond increasing the number of drivers on the platform, LagRide is using the expansion to build what it describes as a more sustainable pathway for people seeking careers within the mobility industry.
Central to that strategy is its Drive-to-Own programme, which provides qualifying captains with a pathway from renting vehicles to eventually owning the assets they operate.
According to Ekanem, captains who successfully operate on the platform for approximately 90 to 100 days and meet the required conditions can become eligible to transition into the ownership programme.
“You move from renting a vehicle from us to driving your own asset while still operating under the LagRide platform,” she explained.
The model is designed to address one of the major challenges facing prospective e-hailing drivers: access to vehicles. By combining vehicle access with training, technology and an ownership pathway, LagRide is seeking to move drivers beyond earning from individual trips towards building longer-term economic value.
Ekanem said the approach reflects the wider human capital development philosophy of CIG Group and its Chairman, Chief Diana Chen.
“Our Chairman, Chief Diana Chen, is very big on people and development, especially human capital development. That is one thing that has driven the business,” she said.
“LagRide is not just about employment. We grow people from stage one to stage two, taking people from being empty to becoming executives and experts in their various fields.”
The company's expansion is also being timed ahead of the traditionally busy end-of-year period in Lagos, when increased commercial, social and travel activity places greater demand on transportation services.
Ekanem said the combination of new vehicles, additional captains and an expanded support workforce would enable LagRide to respond to that demand.
“As you can see here, these are brand-new vehicles. That tells you our 1,000 drivers is real. We are preparing in terms of vehicles being available, people being available to ride, and the workforce to support the work,” she said.
Executive Chairman of Tango Brooks Technologies Limited, Mr Peter Atuma, who attended the deployment, said the significance of the programme extends beyond providing drivers with another source of income.
“This is not just about giving people an opportunity to earn income by driving; it is also about creating a pathway for them to eventually own their own vehicles,” Atuma said.
He described the decision to refer to LagRide drivers as “captains” as reflective of the level of responsibility and professionalism expected from them.
Tango Brooks Technologies partners with LagRide through the Tango Fuel App, a fuel-management solution designed to support greater efficiency across fleet operations.
LagRide Fleet Manager, Mr Stephen Onah, meanwhile, told the newly deployed captains that increasing the number of vehicles on the road must be accompanied by strong operational standards.
“Our KPI is for you to succeed. You are not on this journey alone. We are here with you, and we are all here to make money together,” Onah said.
He encouraged the captains to maintain punctuality, comply with operational guidelines, care properly for their vehicles and work closely with fleet supervisors as they build their careers on the platform.
In an address delivered on behalf of LagRide Chairman, Chief Diana Chen, the new captains were also urged to prioritise professionalism, customer experience and safety.
“Every trip is an opportunity to make a lasting positive impression. From the way you drive to the way you communicate with your riders and care for your vehicle, every little detail contributes to the experience passengers will have with LagRide,” Chen said.
Some of the newly deployed captains said the combination of immediate earning opportunities and the prospect of vehicle ownership influenced their decision to join the platform.
Chinonso Favour Febo said he discovered LagRide through an online advertisement and viewed the platform as an opportunity for young Nigerians willing to work to build sustainable income.
Fatai Adeleke said the rental and Drive-to-Own structure attracted him to the platform, adding that LagRide’s training had also strengthened his understanding of road safety and customer relations.
Another captain, John Ochibo, said recommendations from friends already operating on the platform encouraged him to join, and he believes the programme can help him work towards his financial goals.
With about 400 captains already onboarded through the current deployment programme, LagRide says further waves will follow as it works towards adding 1,000 more captains by December.
For the company, the 70 per cent growth represents more than increased activity on its platform. It is driving a broader expansion strategy built around more vehicles, more professionally trained captains and a model intended to turn driving from an income opportunity into a pathway towards asset ownership.
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