Ride-hailing company Bolt is urging drivers to look beyond earnings and sign up for its health insurance scheme as part of its rewards. The company disclosed this in a statement seen by Technext.

Bolt said a driver's responsibility is not only to complete trips, but also to support the families who depend on them, including by meeting healthcare needs. With the rising cost of healthcare in Nigeria, the company said a single medical emergency can place significant financial strain on a household, making access to affordable health insurance increasingly important.

Read also: Lagos drivers protest Uber, Bolt and inDrive's refusal to implement mandatory health insurance

The push comes amid a broader debate across Africa's gig economy over how to extend protections to workers who are typically classified as independent contractors rather than employees, a classification that excludes them from traditional employment benefits such as employer-provided health cover.

According to the company, conversations about supporting drivers often focus on earnings, but there is also a need to prioritise affordable healthcare that protects drivers and provides peace of mind for their families. Bolt is therefore urging eligible drivers to take advantage of its discounted health insurance plans for themselves and their families, in order to reduce the financial burden that unexpected medical expenses can create.

Senior General Manager for Bolt West Africa, Teddy Appa-Dankyi, said support for drivers should go beyond helping them earn an income and should also focus on improving their well-being.

"Their wellbeing has a direct impact on the people who depend on them. We believe health insurance shouldn't be viewed as an optional benefit, it is an important part of helping drivers build more secure and resilient lives," he said.

He added that as Nigeria's cost of living continues to rise, access to affordable healthcare has become increasingly important for working families.

Where Bolt's health insurance plan fits into the NHIA directive

In March 2026, Bolt partnered with Bastion Health to introduce discounted health insurance plans for its driver-partners across Nigeria. Through the collaboration, drivers are able to access discounted health plans under a pooled programme, with the flexibility to choose coverage for themselves as well as their dependents.

The system depends on drivers contributing enough through discounted fees for it to work, and Bolt has not disclosed whether adoption levels have been sufficient to make the programme worthwhile. Nigeria has historically struggled with low health insurance penetration, with the majority of the population relying on out-of-pocket payments for healthcare.

The scheme also raises questions about how it aligns with a May 2026 directive from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) mandating that e-hailing companies and logistics operators provide health insurance for their drivers and delivery personnel. That directive followed protests by Lagos drivers who accused major ride-hailing platforms of refusing to comply with mandatory health insurance requirements.

A key question is whether a system that depends on drivers pooling enough funds to function qualifies as providing mandatory health insurance. Another question is whether an organisation that requires personnel to pay part of the premium can be said to have fully provided the insurance benefit for them. The answers could shape how other gig economy platforms operating in Nigeria structure their own compliance with the NHIA directive.