General News
Uber Deploys New Solution To Further Address Driver-Partners Needs
By peter oluka
Uber, has disclosed a powerful set of new features on the app that will make it even easier for driver-partners across Nigeria to choose when, where, and how they drive.
Driver-partners in Nigeria choose to drive with Uber because they can use the app on their own terms. With these new features, Uber is doubling up on what’s made Uber the first choice for flexible opportunities and making it even better.
These new features follow the recent launch of Uber’s In-App Chat, a feature which allows driver-partners and riders to chat right in the Uber app without having to share their phone numbers with one another when they need to get in touch.
Lola Kassim, general manager for Uber West Africa explains, “Over the last few months, we’ve spent a lot of time listening to and engaging with over 7000 driver-partners across Nigeria, hearing what they need from the Uber app so that we can improve and transform the driver experience. We are thrilled about the feedback we received as driver-partners have been very clear on what they need. Based on their responses, we will be rolling out products that can address three keys areas: more flexibility for drivers when it comes to when they want to use Uber, using Uber technology to create a stress-free experience, and building on safety.”
To start, Uber will be launching a number of products that drivers have asked for:
Driver Share My Trip:
Uber already offers a way for riders to share their trip status with their contacts, and so the Share My Trip feature now allows drivers to share the trip information with loved ones, without implicating the privacy of the rider or divulging personal information or specific drop off or pick up points.
Arrival Destination & Time:
Drivers will now be able to set the time that they want to arrive at their final destination at any time of the day with the Arrival Time feature. As drivers go about their day with the destination and arrival time set, the app will notify them when it’s time to start heading toward their destination.
At that time, they’ll be connected with a trip along the same path. This allows for more flexibility and allows them to make a little extra money on the way.
Long Trip Notification:
Information will be sent to driver-partners to fit driving around their lifestyle, which means drivers will now get a heads-up when a trip is estimated to be 45 minutes or longer, so they can plan accordingly.
Rating Protection:
Sometimes riders might give their trip a low rating for reasons beyond a drivers control like an issue with the Uber App. With the new ratings policy, these type of ratings won’t count towards a drivers score. Uber will still get the feedback to help them improve but it won’t impact the driver’s overall rating.
What does this mean for driver-partners? Kassim explains, “When Chinonyerem goes online to start accepting rider requests, he can use the “Share My Trip” feature to share his information about his trip with his wife such as where he is on the map. He is in control to start and stop sharing with his wife or other contacts as he’d like, and she can easily see his whereabouts on a map with quick-dial contact details and his license plate number.”
“Or take, for example, driver-partner Adekunle, who has been driving for quite some time that day and wants to end his time on the Uber app in the next hour so. “Long trip notification” allows for him to know in advance if the next trip will be more than 45 minutes so that he can choose to accept it or it goes to the next available driver, allowing him to go home when he needs to.”
“Drivers play a key role in defining Uber’s future and we want them to know that we are committed to ensuring the app works best for them first. We believe these new features will create meaningful changes to their lives and driving experience,” concludes Kassim.
But this is only the start – by putting driver-partner concerns and dialogue at the heart of Uber’s strategy, Uber will continuously work on improving their experience with the app.
This isn’t just about new features – it’s about a sustained commitment over time, and Uber is incredibly excited to apply the full strength of Uber to improve and transform the driver experience for the 7000 men and women who drive with Uber every week.
Vitel Wireless, Nigeria’s first Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) has entered into partnership with Slot Systems Limited for distribution of its SIM cards and other gadgets around the country.
Chudi Nwabueze, managing director, Vitel Wireless who described the partnership as a defining moment for his company said Vitel Wireles’s purpose is clear: to transform connectivity in Nigeria through innovation, affordability, and seamless access.
Nwabueze, who spoke in Lagos recently at the official engagement with Slot said Vitel Wireless, as the nation’s first Mobile Virtual Network Operator is committed to creating smart, reliable solutions that break down barriers to communication and make it easier and more cost-effective for people to stay connected anytime, anywhere.
“This partnership with SLOT is a meeting of shared values and vision. By combining our innovative mobile services with SLOT’s extensive retail presence, we are making Vitel Wireless SIM cards and the connectivity they offer more accessible than ever before. Customers will now be able to purchase, register, and top-up their SIM cards conveniently within their own communities.”
He described the collaboration as more than just distribution, ”it is about empowering people. It is about bridging the connectivity gap with technology, accessibility, and affordability at the heart of everything we do.”
Nwabueze further explained Vitel Wireless SIM card is a location technology awareness card. It can track whereabouts of a person. This information can help the police, on official demand, in case of unfortunate incident.
He said the disadvantages of tracking a person’s whereabout outweighs the advantages.
He explained that access code is given to another person for tracking.
“We operate as a core network and we have integrated with all the major networks in Nigeria, including international calls. So, on a simple language, we are a GSM company, that you do call, SMS, data and we offer more value like safety. And the good news is that we are spread out in the 36 States plus Abuja FCT in Nigeria.
Digital Realty Nigeria, a carrier-neutral data centre operator, will be launching its ServiceFabric® platform alongside opening of its new LKK2 Data Centre in Lagos today.
ServiceFabric Platform in Lagos Nigeria, aligned with Digital Realty’s commitment to enabling seamless global interconnectivity for businesses, providing enterprise customers in Nigeria with the ability to connect whenever, wherever, and to whoever they need to.
Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, managing director, Digital Realty Nigeria, said that the presence of ServiceFabric in Lagos will support the growing demand for hybrid IT and multi-cloud connectivity, empowering businesses with a secure, software-defined interconnection platform.
“As you are aware, data is driving our world forward across every aspect of the economy. To unlock the opportunities of data we provide the meeting place for Companies, Technologies and Data to come together across Africa, one of the fastest growing continents, and in the process, we enable bold new ways to expand and grow,” he said.
Digital Realty’s global data centre footprint gives customers access to the connected communities that matter to them with over 300 facilities in 50 global metros across 25 countries on six continents. Digital Realty currently maintains client base of over 5,000 customers including over 1,500+ enterprises, 1,300+ networks service providers, and over 1,000+ cloud and IT providers. It offers datacentre services to 250+ of the Fortune 500 companies.
Meta Platforms has frozen hiring in its artificial intelligence division following months of aggressive recruitment, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The hiring freeze, which took effect last week, coincides with a broader restructuring of the company and restricts current employees from moving between teams within the AI division. The duration of the freeze has not been disclosed.
“There might be exceptions to the block on external hires, but they would need permission from Meta’s chief AI officer, Alexandr Wang,” the sources said. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the freeze, describing it as “basic organizational planning: creating a solid structure for our new superintelligence efforts after bringing people on board and undertaking yearly budgeting and planning exercises.”
Meta has been a leading player in the AI talent race, offering some researchers pay packages worth nine figures and acquiring startups to secure key personnel. Analysts have raised concerns over the high cost of such hiring, warning that Meta’s stock-based compensation could affect shareholder returns.
The restructuring divides Meta’s AI operations into four teams: TBD Lab, focused on superintelligence; an AI products team; an infrastructure team; and a long-term exploratory team called Fundamental AI Research. The reorganization follows criticism of the company’s previous AGI Foundations team, responsible for Meta’s Llama large language models, which underperformed expectations after its latest release.
After the Llama release in April, CEO Mark Zuckerberg became personally involved in recruiting, reaching out to researchers at OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and other labs. Offers sometimes reached $100 million in total compensation, with one overture to Thinking Machines Lab co-founder Andrew Tulloch valued at $1.5 billion, though he declined.
To strengthen its AI efforts, Meta also brought on Scale AI co-founder Alexandr Wang, former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman, and Safe Superintelligence co-founder Daniel Gross, with the company acquiring stakes in their ventures as part of the recruitment. By mid-August, Meta had hired over 50 AI researchers and engineers from companies including OpenAI, Google, Apple, xAI, and Anthropic.
Investor concern over the cost of tech giants’ AI expansions has contributed to a recent selloff in technology stocks. In an August 18 research note, Morgan Stanley analysts warned that rising stock-based compensation at Meta and Google could either drive AI breakthroughs or dilute shareholder value without clear innovation gains.
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