By Aduragbemi Omiyale

A new feature to enable safer deliveries in Nigeria has been introduced by a leading global ride-hailing platform, inDrive.

The initiative, Sender-Validated Post-Pickup Cancellation, was launched by the company following a successful pilot phase.

This new feature directly addresses a concern among users: the practice of couriers cancelling delivery orders after parcels have been picked up without authorisation.

With the new system, customers will enjoy greater peace of mind and confidence in every delivery.

Once a parcel is picked up, couriers must obtain explicit approval from the sender before cancelling the delivery. The cancellation request is automatically approved if the sender does not respond within the set time interval.

The development would ensure couriers are not unfairly locked into stalled deliveries. The time threshold will be continuously monitored and optimised based on user behaviour and feedback.

According to the Country Representative for inDrive in Nigeria, Mr Oladimeji Timothy, the feature offers a smart, scalable solution to enhance the reliability and security of the platform’s courier service in the country.

He explained further that the new feature has no negative impact on support ticket volumes, delivery times, or other key performance indicators, underscoring its operational readiness and scalability.

“This move is expected to significantly improve retention among business users and boost public confidence in our courier service.

“With millions of deliveries projected in the second half of 2025, even small improvements in cancellation rates can result in hundreds of thousands of additional successful and secure deliveries.

“This feature reinforces our commitment to our users by directly tackling one of the biggest pain points in the courier experience,” he said.

inDrive has operations in nine African countries and it is gradually taking over the market because of its top-notch services.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Lagos State Government will commence the enforcement of the electronic call-up (e-call-up) system on the Lekki-Epe corridor from June 16.

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mr Obafemi Hamzat, confirmed this in a statement signed by the state’s Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, on Sunday.

He announced the implementation of the system during a stakeholders’ meeting convened to address pressing concerns surrounding traffic management and congestion caused by increasing industrial activities within the Lekki Free Zone and its surrounding areas.

Recall that the e-call-up system was met with fierce opposition by stakeholders, who rejected it, leading to a postponement by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Mr Hamzat explained that the e-call-up system was designed to regulate the movement of articulated vehicles and tankers accessing the corridor, adding that this will promote orderly traffic flow, preventing the kind of gridlock previously experienced in the Apapa area.

“I urge all stakeholders to remain fully committed to the initiative, as it is critical in enhancing logistics efficiency and improving road transportation infrastructure in the state,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Osiyemi, reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to the project.

He acknowledged that while previous engagements with stakeholders had resulted in consensus on implementation, challenges encountered during recent enforcement efforts necessitated a temporary pause and further consultations.

The commissioner further directed the immediate removal of all articulated vehicles currently obstructing traffic along the Lekki-Epe corridor.

“Enforcement of the e-call-up system is not intended as a revenue-generating initiative, but rather as a vital strategy to improve traffic flow, safety, and road infrastructure management across the state,” he said.

The meeting witnessed the participation of key stakeholders, including representatives from the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

Others include Major Energies Marketer Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Lekki Worldwide Investment Company (LWIC), Lekki Free Zone (LFZ), Lekki Sea Port.

Also involved in the meeting are: Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC Retail), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Foreign exchange (FX) volatility, rising inflation, and a decline in foreign-used cars, otherwise known as Tokunbo, has triggered a strong demand for Nigerian-used vehicles, leading to a 22 per cent increase in vehicle inspection requests, a new report by Cars45, a leading vehicle inspection and valuation auto tech company, has revealed.

In a report made available to Business Post on Wednesday, the firm observed that it notice this spike in the first quarter of 2025, suggesting a shift in Nigeria’s used car buyer behaviour, also indicating that a silent transformation is taking root in how Nigerians approach used vehicle or tokunbo purchases.

The trend points to a growing culture of caution among consumers, who now treat car buying as a high-stakes investment rather than a routine transaction.

The high cost of guesswork

With a weakened Naira and sharp fluctuations in import-related costs, buyers are no longer willing to rely solely on visual checks or seller claims.

Between January and March 2025, the Naira depreciated by an additional 3 per cent against the dollar.

Additionally, figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that used vehicle imports into Nigeria fell by 65 per cent year-on-year, further driving up prices due to constrained supply.

This has created an environment ripe for exploitation, with a rise in documented cases of sellers offloading flood-damaged or tampered vehicles at inflated prices.

“Every car should be treated like a potential investment. You wouldn’t buy land without a survey. Why buy a car without an inspection?” the Head of Technical Services at Cars45, Mr Damilola Ojurongbe, stated.

A more informed buyer is emerging

Traditionally, many buyers have depended on a mechanic’s glance or a test drive before closing a deal. Today, inspection requests increasingly involve diagnostic scans, flood and accident history reports, body panel reviews, and transmission and engine assessments, even for relatively lower-priced vehicles.

Industry observers attribute this shift to multiple factors:

FX-driven price sensitivity

With used car prices rising across the board, consumers are more cautious about making costly mistakes.

Digital fraud exposure

As online auto listings grow, so do scams. Verified inspection data from reliable platforms like Cars45 and Jiji offers some level of protection against seller misrepresentation.

Education and transparency

Auto-focused content from digital platforms and inspection firms is improving consumer awareness around vehicle health indicators.

Changing market expectations

A report by Researchgate.net shows that used vehicles make up about 85% of all cars imported into Nigeria, a statistic corroborated by local dealerships and independent marketplaces.

Cars45 market analysts predict that verified inspections could become standard in the transaction process, especially as platforms and dealers offering transparency gain a competitive advantage.

“There’s a visible shift from urgency to diligence. People want to know what they’re really paying for; and in today’s market, information is the most valuable asset,” Mr Damilola added.