Updated 2 October 2026 · Travo.ng
Quick answer
Uber stopped operating in Nigeria on 2 September 2026, so you can no longer book one. A 30-minute ride on Bolt, using its last published rate cards, comes to roughly ₦2,387 to ₦4,467 in Lagos and ₦3,002 to ₦5,434 in Abuja before surge, and inDrive has no rate card because you and the driver agree the fare. Those Bolt cards date from June 2023 (Lagos) and August 2024 (Abuja), so expect today’s app price to be higher: a safe working budget is the figure plus 30%.
If you are here because you used to search for the price of a 30-minute Uber, the question is still the right one; only the apps have changed. Uber ended its Nigerian operations after 12 years, as reported by Channels TV, Vanguard and Bloomberg. Bolt and inDrive are still running, and TheCable reports both are moving to win its riders. This guide shows what a half-hour trip costs on those two apps, how the number is built, and where a pre-booked driver makes more sense.
How a 30-minute ride is priced on Bolt
Bolt’s published Nigerian rate cards use four parts: a base (start) fee, a charge per kilometre, a charge per minute, and a minimum fare. The app price is the base fee plus distance plus time, and never less than the minimum. Here are the last rate cards we could verify from dated press reports:
| City | Effective | Base / start fee | Per km | Per minute | Minimum fare | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos | 2 June 2023 | ₦527 | ₦130 | ₦23 | ₦800 | Techpoint Africa (2 Jun 2023); Techloy (5 Jun 2023) |
| Abuja | 30 August 2024 | ₦884 | ₦152 | ₦25 | ₦1,495 | Leadership (30 Aug 2024); Nairametrics (4 Sep 2024) |
These are the most recent Bolt rate cards we could verify. Bolt’s own Nigeria pages could not be opened from our research environment, so we cannot confirm whether newer cards exist. Lagos is three years old.
Worked estimate: a 30-minute Bolt trip
The time part of a 30-minute trip is fixed by the clock: 30 minutes at ₦23 is ₦690 in Lagos, and at ₦25 is ₦750 in Abuja. What swings the price is distance, which depends on traffic. The table uses three assumed average speeds, with the formula base + (km × per-km rate) + (30 × per-minute rate).
| Trip type (assumed) | Distance covered | Bolt Lagos, 2023 rates | Lagos +30% scenario | Bolt Abuja, 2024 rates | Abuja +30% scenario |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slow rush-hour crawl (about 18 km/h) | 9 km | ₦2,387 | ₦3,103 | ₦3,002 | ₦3,903 |
| Typical mixed traffic (about 30 km/h) | 15 km | ₦3,167 | ₦4,117 | ₦3,914 | ₦5,088 |
| Free-flowing, long hop (about 50 km/h) | 25 km | ₦4,467 | ₦5,807 | ₦5,434 | ₦7,064 |
Our calculation from the rate cards above. Distances are our assumptions about average speeds, not measured trips. The +30% columns are a scenario, not a published tariff: petrol rose from ₦617 to between ₦855 and ₦897 a litre in September 2024 (Nairametrics), and Bolt’s own Abuja card rose 15% to 23% across its components that year, so a 2023 Lagos card likely understates today’s fare. Surge is not included.
Reading the table: for a mixed-traffic half hour of about 15 km, the Lagos card gives ₦3,167 and the Abuja card gives ₦3,914. Applying our +30% scenario takes those to about ₦4,117 and ₦5,088. If you are budgeting, use the scenario column; if the app quotes less, treat it as a bonus.
What about inDrive?
inDrive does not work from a rate card. TheCable reports that it does not set ride prices with an algorithm: you propose a fare and drivers accept or counter, and the company says its service fee is about 10 per cent. Legit.ng adds that fares are agreed before the trip begins, across seven cities: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Benin City, Ibadan, Owerri and Enugu.
That means there is no verified per-minute or per-kilometre number for a 30-minute inDrive trip. In practice, the price you can get depends on what you offer, how busy the area is and how long the driver expects to spend in traffic. A sensible starting point is the Bolt estimate above for the same route; offer near it, and move up in small steps if no driver accepts. We have not seen a reliable published average for inDrive, so we do not quote one.
Why the quote can differ from the table
- Surge and demand. Prices can rise when riders outnumber drivers, such as in rain, on Friday evenings and at rush hour. We could not find a published Bolt surge multiplier for Nigeria, so ignore unsourced figures you see elsewhere.
- Fuel. Drivers argue that fares lag fuel costs. Nairametrics reported drivers phoning riders on long trips to agree their own price, with one saying he adds at least ₦5,000 above the app price on trips over ₦10,000.
- Tolls and fees. Toll gates and any booking fee are extra on some trips.
- Drivers’ action. Legit.ng reports that the Lagos council of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria plans an October 2026 shutdown of Bolt and inDrive, demanding a 10% commission cap. No exact date was given. Expect scarce cars and higher prices on any strike day.
When a booked driver beats repeated rides
A single 30-minute hop suits an app. But if your day involves several stops, waiting time, an airport run or a meeting where you cannot be late, a driver booked in advance can be easier to plan. Instead of paying a fresh fare for each leg and hoping a car accepts, you agree the arrangement before you leave. On Travo you can book a driver or an airport pickup and see the quote before you confirm. We have not published a fixed price here because it depends on the car, route and duration.
Need more than one trip, or a fixed plan?
Book a driver on Travo for errands, meetings or longer days, or request an airport pickup. You see the quote before you confirm.
Ways to keep a 30-minute fare down
- Move your pin to a main road. Pickups inside estates add minutes you pay for.
- Avoid the peaks. Leaving 30 minutes before or after rush hour can shorten both time and distance charges.
- Check two apps. Compare the Bolt quote with an inDrive offer for the same trip before you commit.
- Compare with public transport. The NBS put the average Lagos within-city bus fare at ₦1,741.43 in May 2026 (Legit.ng, 30 June 2026); it is slower and less private but far cheaper.
- Estimate fuel for your own car. Our petrol calculator helps you judge whether driving yourself is cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a 30-minute Uber in Nigeria now?
Uber stopped operating in Nigeria on 2 September 2026, so there is no Uber fare. On Bolt, a 30-minute trip works out at roughly ₦2,387 to ₦4,467 in Lagos and ₦3,002 to ₦5,434 in Abuja on its last published rate cards, before surge. Budget about 30% more.
Is Bolt cheaper than inDrive?
It depends on the trip and the moment. Bolt shows a calculated price. On inDrive you propose a fare and drivers accept or counter, so you can sometimes pay less and sometimes more. Compare both before you ride.
Why is the Lagos Bolt rate card from 2023?
It is the latest one we could verify from dated press. Bolt’s own pages were not reachable from our research environment, so a newer rate may exist. Treat the table as a floor, not a quote.
Does the per-minute charge matter more than distance?
On a 30-minute trip the time charge is fixed at ₦690 in Lagos or ₦750 in Abuja, but distance usually adds more. A free-flowing 25 km trip costs much more than a 9 km crawl, even though both take 30 minutes.
What if there is a driver strike?
Legit.ng reports an October 2026 shutdown plan by app-based drivers in Lagos, without an exact date. Keep a back-up such as a pre-booked driver, public transport or a hotel or office car for important trips.
Can Moove or former Uber drivers still drive for me?
Technext reports that Moove now lets its drivers operate on Bolt and inDrive, so many former Uber drivers can be found on those apps.
Can I book a Travo driver for a 30-minute trip?
Yes, you can request a driver on Travo and see the quote first. Travo is an independent booking platform and is not a partner of Bolt or inDrive.
Related guides
- Book a car or driver on demand with Travo
- Hire a driver in Abuja
- Car hire in Lagos
- How to get picked up at Lagos airport
- Petrol calculator for Nigeria
Sources: Channels TV (2 Sep 2026), Vanguard and Bloomberg on Uber’s exit; Techpoint Africa (2 Jun 2023) and Techloy (5 Jun 2023) on Bolt Lagos rates; Leadership (30 Aug 2024) and Nairametrics (4 Sep 2024) on Bolt Abuja rates; TheCable and Legit.ng (Sep 2026) on inDrive and driver action. Fares and prices change often — confirm before you travel or pay.
