The Edo State Government is looking to introduce API integration for e-hailing operators like Bolt, Uber and other e-hailing operators operating in the state. This was revealed by the Managing Director of the Edo State Transport Authority (ESTA), Mrs Edugie Agbonlahor, during the driver safety summit held by a leading ride-hailing company, Bolt, in Benin City.
According to the Managing Director, the introduction of API integration will be part of a broader plan to introduce e-hailing regulations into the state. Noting that safety is a major characteristic for preserving and enhancing the ride-hailing ecosystem, she noted that the ESTA has already developed the e-hailing regulation and will become operational once it is gazetted.
“To foster a conducive environment for ride-hailing operations ESTA has developed a ride-hailing regulation. Once gazetted, this regulation would serve as the regulatory framework governing the ride-hailing ecosystem to promote orderliness, eradicate the misconception that ride-hailing drivers are traditional car hire, and curb harassment by local government task forces,” Mrs Agbonlahor said.
While commending Bolt for the summit which was the first of its kind in the state, she stated that it is the responsibility of all drivers to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy just as it’s the responsibility of the government to ensure the roads are in good condition. She also pointed out that safety is a key characteristic for preserving and enhancing the state’s ride-hailing ecosystem.
Aside from introducing API integration with operators, the ESTA will also be issuing visual identifiers for ride-hailing drivers thus exempting them from daily ticketing and facilitating smoother interactions with local authorities. This, the government believes, underscores the collaborative efforts between government and industry stakeholders to ensure the safety and sustainability of ride-hailing operations in Edo State.
API integration and e-hailing in Nigeria
With this development, Edo state will be looking to borrow a leaf from the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation which has already introduced API integration with e-hailing operators in the state. This was in line with a provision of the state’s regulations which provides that operators must grant the ministry access to its data. A further agreement purportedly signed by the state government and e-hailing operators made API integration a requisite for operating in the state.
However, enforcing that provision has recently brought the government into confrontation with Uber, another major ride-hailing company in Nigeria. This enforcement saw officers of the ministry embark on arbitrary clampdown of drivers operating on the Uber app while impounding their vehicles. According to the ministry, the company has failed to grant access to its data through API integration.
Uber, on its part, explained that it was already sharing data with the ministry through a secured folder. However, this is not exactly what API integration means as the ministry wants access to its entire database. This appears to be posing privacy concerns for the e-hailing company, and understandably so, as it struggles to maintain global standards on privacy and security of data.
As the Lagos scenario continues to play out, it will be interesting to see how the Edo State situation plays out and how Uber would react to it. The e-hailing regulation in the state would appear to provide some important benefits like the provision of tags which would protect drivers from harassment by agents of the local government task force which sometimes carry out their duties with brute force.
See also: Lagos government begins impounding Uber/Moove vehicles over failure to provide access to database
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