Bolt, a leading ride-hailing company in Nigeria, has announced that it rewarded top riders with several gifts like AirPods and iPhone 17 Pros. This was disclosed by the company in a statement to Technext.
According to the company, the riders were selected based on how frequently they used the app and how consistently they moved with Bolt throughout 2025.
“January usually comes with long to-do lists and ‘back to reality’ energy. But for a few Bolt riders, the year started with a surprise they definitely didn’t see coming. Recently, Bolt rewarded some of its most active riders with premium gifts like AirPods Pro, an iPhone 17 Pro, and festive hampers,” the statement reads.
The statement further noted that the rewards were an extension of the ride-hailing company’s 12 Rides of Cheer campaign, which it ran toward the end of last year. During the campaign, which lasted nine days, riders randomly received little surprises which included ride promo codes and hampers. These were rewards for just booking rides as usual.
According to the company, there were no long forms to fill, no stress, just good vibes.
Although the campaign started late last year, Bolt says the idea wasn’t really about the season. It was more about recognising riders who quietly ‘showed up’ all year, from airport runs, late-night trips, quick errands, and everyday movement that adds up over time.
“Some of the riders who received gifts admitted they didn’t even know something like this was coming. One minute you’re booking a ride, the next thing you know, someone is calling you about an iPhone,” the company said.
Bolt is building loyalty among riders as well as drivers
Bolt has dedicated much effort to loyalty and reward-driven initiatives recently, though most of it has usually been directed at drivers. In 2020, the company launched the Drive for a Prize campaign, which rewards the loyal drivers on its platform with up to N50 million in prizes.
The company described it as a driver support initiative which forms a part of its continued recognition and appreciation for service excellence. The campaign, which lasts for eight weeks, rewards drivers with various prizes, ranging from home appliances like brand new TVs to mobile phones, amongst others.
Similarly, in 2024, the company introduced the Bolt Rewards Program, which gives fuel and insurance discounts to drivers. In the wake of the fuel price hike that accompanied the fuel subsidy removal, the fuel discount is to help drivers manage the increasing cost of fuel, a prime necessity in the mobility industry.
The insurance discounts were aimed at helping the drivers to manage any unexpected costs of repairs.
While most of these had been directed at drivers, Bolt appears to be diverting its focus a bit to build a bond among riders. The company further says it plans to keep finding ways to acknowledge users who stick with the platform, whether through surprise campaigns or everyday perks.
“Because sometimes, moving around the city can come with more than just a ride,” the company said.
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