We announced yesterday that Uber has opened up their service to Abuja residents and they are offering 6 days worth of free rides to mark the launch. Of course, the move was hardly a surprise and I’ve been wondering exactly what the game-plan is. Literally the only thing cheap over there is transportation and asides from that, the public transport system is pretty much as organised as it gets in this part of the world.
Basically, Abuja appears to be a healthy young man that does not need Dr. Uber. We asked Twitter users what they thought and the results were…interesting.
What do you think about Uber in Abuja. Will it work?
— TechCabal (@TechCabal) March 23, 2016
Some people were excited at the news…
Uber in Abuja. No more white shirt becoming brown because of faux-fur covered seats and dirty seat belts 💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾🙌🏾
— Chine Ezeks 🎨 (@ChineEzeks) March 23, 2016
I can totally relate…*heads to dry cleaner because I cannot be bothered to wash white shirts*
https://twitter.com/MsAkuns/status/712572113677381633
Thank you Lord for Uber in Abuja. I have been waiting for you💃🏼
— NikkiOginni (@moonshineee_) March 24, 2016
…somebody’s…excited. (._. )
Uber would deliver my Abuja boys from their 'come and pick me' girlfriends though.
— Vontae Davis (@slysage) March 24, 2016
Yes, please.
Well, someone’s…hungry (._. )
Uber is just getting lunched in Abuja. So much for being the fct
— sesan (@tamillonaire) March 23, 2016
Some people have been living under a rock…
Uber was never in Abuja?
— The Mechanic. (@SirSelim) March 23, 2016
…and I’m even not talking about Dwayne Johnson.
Some people think they’ll have to bring their prices waaay lower
Uber charged 800 from Central Area to Wuse Zone 1. Regular cab is 300. Is Uber really ready for Abuja?
— Bíbíire ò ṣé fowó rà (@yew1e) March 23, 2016
Uber Abuja is really charging 1450 from Garki to Wuse 2? Something that is 400, 500 with AC? They are not exactly ready.
— Biggie. (@BiggieMonzie) March 23, 2016
I trying to figure out how to use Uber, checked fare estimate from my house to Coldstone wuse2 it gave me 1450, normal cab is 500naira
— Ijay. (@spikinjay) March 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/iredeadunni/status/712636584236081152
Who advised Uber to come to Abuja abeg? Unless they want to be charging N200 per trip, this is not the place for them.
— Red Army (@kingwobe) March 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/Claritamonae/status/712681495303860224
This @Uber in Abuja, as currently set up, will run at a loss fa. Maitama to Life Camp is tops 1k, Uber is saying 2k. I go kuku get fuel den
— OkikiJesu Zion B (@Okixie) March 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/MrOlufemiO/status/712912475281301505
LOL, even Abuja runs girls that like swag will not betray their loyal cab men for some Uber please.
— Biggie. (@BiggieMonzie) March 23, 2016
Looks like they don’t have enough drivers yet…
Uber came to Abuja
But there are no cars
Meanwhile in Dubai you can take a chopper pic.twitter.com/JRAaBPDEKp— Pst. Gbenro (@gbenro) March 23, 2016
Been waiting about 15 minutes for my '9' minute @UberNigeria ride. Driver is blaming the GPS.
Me: pic.twitter.com/NoqiosTiYP— Pst. Gbenro (@gbenro) March 24, 2016
It makes sense to use Uber in Abuja for long trips like the airport, but not much else.
So @Uber in #Abuja is charging below N3,000 from the Abuja airport into town as against N5,000 charged by airport taxies. #UberNowinAbuja
— EEU. 🇳🇬 (@royaltyuso) March 23, 2016
Uber's strength in Abj will be on long distance movement out of central Abj. They stand no chance with those low fares within central Abuja.
— Chuu (@chuksiA) March 11, 2016
I think the Uber Abuja can only be helpful for airport trips, other routes are far expensive tbvh.
— Ayodeji Aje, PMP (@9ja_Boss) March 23, 2016
After these six days. Ain't nobody using Uber in Abuja lol..maybe on the nights you want to "package" at Play or Transcorp
— Chioma O (@chilolow) March 23, 2016
Well, this is an interesting way to look at it…
Scenario 1:
Uber goes to the taxi drivers Union in Abuja, offers them a cut if they raise their prices across board; Uber or no Uber.
— Online Olúbàdàn – Ọba Olumide, Gboukzi the 1st| (@gboukzi) March 23, 2016
It’s still not clear to me what Uber’s strategy is but hey, they’re the experts. Not me. Not you. Not Donald Trump. We’ll see how it all turns out after a few months.
Fingaz crozzed.
