By Adeola Ogunlade
An indigenous ride-hailing company in Nigeria, Univasa, has launched Verify and Pay, an innovative digital payment system to reshape the Lagos yellow taxi transport system in Nigeria and ease the payment system.
Through verify and pay, passengers hailing a cab can scan the barcode on the taxi to confirm the details of the driver and the vehicle, input their destination to check and negotiate fares, and select preferred payment options such as card payments or USSD.
The platform was launched recently at the Lagos State Taxi Driver and Cab Operators Association, (LSTDCOA) Oshodi, Lagos. The event was graced by the President of LSTDCOA, Mr. Otunba Taiwo Omolekan, General Secretary of LSTDCOA, Honourable Mike Oladipupo, and other high ranking members of LSTDCOA,.
The Verify and Pay is a new face to transportation in Nigeria, it has currently been launched for the Lagos Yellow Cabs but will also cut across other forms of transport within the state, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt before the end of the year.
Speaking at the event, CEO of Univasa, Dr Ben Adeniyi said “the verify and pay platform initiative was born out of the need to be an “Enabler” to service providers and consumers.
“For us at Univasa, providing innovative services is at the helm of our operations and we continue to hold it as a top priority. As a driver partner with Univasa, you get to enjoy the convenience of receiving your payments instantly with our instant withdrawal feature, so “Cash or Card e no matter” as we like to say and for the riders, we are offering you a chance to own your experience while hailing a ride”.
He said UNIVASA is a wholly-owned Nigerian Company that provides a one-stop solution to fulfill the daily needs of Africans via cutting-edge digital technology.
Earlier in his words, the president of LSTDCOA Mr Omolekan Taiwo, who gave a analysis of the journey so far for yellow taxi drivers in Lagos, said that he has been working on providing solutions to the issues affecting taxi drivers and their services.
He added that technology has to be embraced to prevent the extinction of yellow taxi cabs in Lagos state.
He said the association regularly organises training to educate members, especially older persons on how to use digital apps.
Taiwo, who commended Univasa, expressed optimism that it would help improve the reputation of the association as riders will be more assured of their safety.
On his part, the representative of the Universal Insurance Plc, Mr Ayodele Kumolu, spoke in details about their flexible insurance packages where drivers can apply and make payments in installments either a weekly, monthly or yearly package.
Additionally, Univasa rolled out its Drive to Own empowerment program, which allows drivers on the Univasa ride hailing app to pick a Univasa car as their vehicle of choice to work, make daily remittances for a duration of 18-24months, which will be deducted from their earnings from the app, and then the car is the driver’s.