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Government Can Create Enablers To Grow The Nigerian Transport Industry Technologically- Edward Essien

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Edward Essien, Co-Founder, Holla Taxi
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By Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata

An increasing number of Taxi hailing companies have launched their services in Nigeria. It must, however, be pointed out that, these are mostly foreign owned companies. The big question, though, is “why has it been difficult for those owned by Nigerians to survive?

I was recently with Edward Essien, Co-Founder, Holla Taxi and he bared his mind on how technology can improve Nigeria’s transport and the logistic industry in general.

On why he decided to go into the transport business in Nigeria, he stated that there are about 17 million people that live in Lagos State alone, for instance and when compared to the number of cars available in Lagos, that gives a ratio of about one car to about 1,200 people. He emphasized that, what geared him into starting a car hailing business was his desire to move people around because, they have to move.

He noted that there were lots of cars that are usually parked, sitting idle, but which can be used. “A lot of cars were sitting down idle, and we said, okay, why don’t you convert your car into a profit Centre, rather than let it sit down there after doing the traffic and sitting in the office, when you can actually make money from that”, he noted. By applying this model, he stated, Nigerians earn more money with the assets that they have, which often die as a result wear and tear on the roads.

Edward is of the view that, whether we get the infrastructures right or not, technology can still be used to improve the transportation business. “Whether we like it or not, people transport themselves on daily basis”, he reiterated. He stated that the platform is easy to access and use, even, by those using tricycles and motorcycles.

On the issue of young Startups finding it difficult to break into the industry in Nigeria, Edward is of the opinion that, this is so because, most inventors that they talk to, are usually only interested in using Uber standards as a yardstick and these Startups are not in any way near that.

On the doubts in the mind of people as to the prospects for sustainability in the industry in the face of low purchasing power, Edward thinks that this might not be so in the long run. Also responding to a question on whether Nigeria should emulate China, which tries to block foreign rivals of Chinese businesses in that country, in order to support their own, Edward thinks that, it may not be necessary for Nigeria to do so. “What the government should do, he reiterated, is to create enablers for the operators in the industry, such as involving the Bank of Industry in arranging for hire purchase and ownership schemes for the operators. This way, he stressed, more drivers are employed as job is being created.

Edward is of the view that, if you have a sustainable model that can run, while minimizing your cost of operations, you will still have a share of the market, when he spoke of how large the opportunities available in the industry is. Reacting to the fact that there is the concentration of Taxi hailing companies in Lagos, Edward opined that, other States are now being penetrated.

He stated that people are quite interested in what the industry is doing in Nigeria and if other States are well mapped, the business can be done there successfully too. He stated that, he looks forward to a time, when government will hands off certain businesses, such as the transport business, or collaborate with the private sector. Edward concluded by saying that, he believes that, in five years time, if we have the right structure in place, the transport business will be revolutionized.

You can view the interview here and here

 


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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E-Business

Galaxy Backbone Celebrates the Federal Government’s Paperless Civil Service Milestone

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Galaxy Backbone (GBB) aligns with and celebrates the successful announcement by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on the achievement of a Paperless Civil Service, a significant milestone in Nigeria’s public sector reform and digital transformation agenda.

The milestone was formally highlighted at a press briefing led by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who commended Galaxy Backbone for its sustained support and contribution throughout the implementation of the programme.

GBB has played a critical role in enabling this transition by providing secure, scalable, and shared digital infrastructure that supports the digitisation of government processes across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Through the 1Government Cloud, MDAs have been empowered to migrate from paper-based workflows to digital platforms, improving efficiency, collaboration, data security, and service delivery across the Federal Civil Service.

In addition, GovMail, GBB’s secure government email platform, has strengthened official communication, enhanced records management, and reinforced cybersecurity standards—key pillars in sustaining a paperless operating environment.

Galaxy Backbone acknowledges the collective efforts of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Permanent Secretaries, Directors of ICT, consultants, partners, and dedicated public servants whose commitment and collaboration ensured the smooth delivery of this initiative.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, was represented at the press briefing by Akintayo Bamisaye, Acting Group Head, Research, Digital Innovation and Skills Department (RDIS).

GBB describes the achievement as a strong close to 2025 and reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Federal Government in building a modern, efficient, and digitally enabled public service.


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Jumia CEO says Black Friday Signals Nigeria’s E-Commerce Maturity

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At the close of 2025, Temidayo Ojo, the CEO of Jumia Nigeria, reflected on a year-end shopping season that points to the growing maturity of the country’s e-commerce market. “Black Friday is no longer a single, short-lived spike in activity,” he said.

“It has become a familiar, anticipated moment in the retail calendar, where consumers shop deliberately and with confidence.”

Preliminary KPIs for the two months ended November 30, 2025, show strong year-on-year growth in both orders and Gross Merchandise Value (GMV), with GMV growth outpacing order growth. This indicates that customers are placing fuller, more considered baskets rather than shopping in fragmented transactions. Nigeria ranked among Jumia Group’s better-performing markets, with engagement remaining steady throughout the Black Friday period rather than spiking briefly and tapering off.

A key factor behind this performance is the growing familiarity of consumers with online shopping. Customers are increasingly leveraging platform features such as saved carts, brand stores, and price comparison tools to plan purchases in advance. This trend suggests that digital commerce is becoming embedded in everyday habits rather than being viewed as a one-off event.

Ojo also highlighted the role of Jumia’s JForce network in connecting digital commerce to local communities. “Our agents are critical to ensuring that customers across Nigeria, including secondary cities and smaller communities, have access to variety, consistent pricing, and reliable delivery,” he said. “During peak periods like Black Friday, JForce agents can respond faster, serve more customers efficiently, and build stronger local relationships. This isn’t just a distribution channel—it’s a pathway to sustainable income and inclusion.”

Reflecting on the overall performance, the CEO concluded: “What we’re seeing this year-end is steady engagement across categories, stronger consumer confidence, and partners like our JForce agents benefiting from increased activity.

“It confirms that Nigeria’s e-commerce ecosystem is maturing, growing in a more structured and resilient way. As the December Holiday Sale continues, we expect these patterns of familiarity, trust, and participation to sustain momentum and drive both commerce and community impact across the country.”


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Galaxy Backbone Tops FG’s Website Performance Ranking

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Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) has been ranked first overall in the 2025 Federal Government Website Performance Scorecard.

Galaxy Backbone Tops FG's Website Performance Ranking

This is a landmark achievement for Nigeria’s digital economy.

The ranking, conducted by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), is the definitive benchmark for digital excellence and transparency across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Professor Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju, managing director and CEO of Galaxy Backbone, received the award during a ceremony in Abuja.

He described the feat as a validation of the agency’s“Nigeria First”data sovereignty strategy and its relentless pursuit of service excellence.

This recognition comes as the Federal Government intensifies its push to achieve a fully paperless civil service by December 31, 2025.

GBB has been the primary architect of this transition through its 1Gov Enterprise Content Management (ECM) platform, which now hosts the operations of almost all federal MDAs.

The award adds to a growing list of accolades for Galaxy Backbone in 2025, following its recent win of the “International Standard Excellence Award for Best IT Service Provider.”

As the central hub for government shared services, GBB’s performance serves as a blueprint for other agencies currently undergoing digital transformation.

With its expanded fiber-optic backbone now covering over 13 states and its secure cloud solutions, Galaxy Backbone remains the cornerstone of Nigeria’s vision to become a leading digital nation by the end of the decade.

 


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