Valentine’s Day Emerges As 2026’s Busiest Day For Ride-Hailing In Nigeria
Love Season Sparks Mobility Spike
VALENTINE’S Day 2026 has set a new benchmark for Nigeria’s ride-hailing sector, with Bolt reporting its highest traffic levels of the year on February 14.
Company figures show a pronounced nationwide spike in ride requests and completed trips, led by major cities including Lagos and Abuja. Demand began building in the late afternoon and peaked during the evening as residents headed out for romantic dinners, group celebrations, and nightlife activities.
Short Trips, High Frequency
Destinations were largely concentrated around restaurants and entertainment hubs, with short-distance urban trips dominating the platform’s traffic. The pattern highlights how ride-hailing is increasingly woven into the logistics of modern celebrations.
According to Bolt Nigeria’s Public Relations Manager, Femi Adeyemo, the data reflect how single-day social events now shape transportation demand in measurable ways. He noted that many users deliberately chose ride-hailing services over personal vehicles to avoid traffic bottlenecks and the hassle of securing parking at crowded venues.
Late-night safety considerations also played a role, as riders preferred the predictability and convenience of booking trips through digital platforms.
Drivers Capitalise on Peak Demand
For drivers, the Valentine’s Day rush meant higher utilisation rates and more consecutive bookings. Many extended their working hours to maximise earnings during the peak window between early evening and late night.
The surge demonstrates a wider behavioural shift in Nigeria’s urban mobility landscape. Traditionally, ride-hailing demand has spiked during festive seasons and public holidays. However, emerging trends show that culturally significant single-day events can now rival those periods in terms of trip volume.
Analysts say this evolution reflects the growing centrality of digital mobility platforms in everyday life. As more Nigerians rely on ride-hailing services for planned social outings, platforms like Bolt are becoming integral to how cities move — particularly on days when timing, comfort and reliability matter most.
