Uber is a technology company based in San Francisco and has operations in some metropolitan areas across the world. It is a ridesharing company offering services such as; bicycle ridesharing, ride service hailing, peer-peer-ridesharing, food service. Ridesharing by definition is any means of transportation in which multiple people use the same car, truck, van, or vehicle to arrive at a similar destination. Ridesharing can include carpooling and sharing taxis, as well. Companies such as Lyft and Uber fall under the umbrella of ridesharing.
Lagos is Nigeria’s megacity; it is the largest urban city by land and population, situated in the western region of the country. Many have wondered why it isn’t the capital territory of Nigerian since it tends to have a stable economic community. However, in 1861 the British annexed Lagos as a colony and when they established the protectorate and colony of Nigeria in 1914, Lagos was declared as its capital. So Lagos was the first official capital of Nigeria before it was moved to Abuja on December 12, 1991. The capital of Nigeria is the Seat of Central Government. This change was necessary because of the need for expansion in the future and Lagos was already densely populated.
Uber’s Technology;
Indeed it is a technology company; this is rightly said because it has been able to utilize and inculcate the use of technology into its business. Technology has made the globalization of business and the world interesting. For example, the use of technology in Uber has made it possible for passengers to order a ride using the company’s app without having to jump on moving vehicles in Lagos. Passengers ride in comfort and make payments at the end of their ride based on the rider’s pre-selected preferences, which could be cash, a credit card on file, Google Pay, Apple Pay or PayPal.
Another example of Uber’s technological advancement is seen in the status of the drivers and their requirements. Its drivers function with an app where they are able to receive and accept offers of transportation and further information. The Uber driver app makes provision for hearing-impaired drivers. Most of its drivers are independent contractors who make use of their own cars although drivers can rent or lease a car to drive with Uber. Studies have shown that ridesharing companies like Uber contributed to the reduction of public transport users.
Uber’s Boat Lagos, Nigeria;
Uber’s vision is to create a multi-modal platform to better serve riders and the cities they operate in. This vision will make a significant effect in Lagos where there are consistent buzzy and activities that encourage traffic. On Oct 11, 2019, in a bid for the transportation company (Uber) to carry out its vision of expansion, it launched its first boat ride on the African continent in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital. Uber app is available for download to anyone who wishes to book fort fantastic boat ride. The company partners with Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and Texas Connection FerriesLtd to start UBERBOAT. This innovation of Uber boat would reduce the effect of traffic jams on business and work punctuality and would encourage businesses at the river banks thereby creating business opportunities in Lagos.
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