A new Nigerian mobility platform, HABRide, is set to enter Lagos’ competitive e-hailing market in November 2026, promising a fresh approach to one of the industry’s biggest challenges: delivering affordable fares for passengers without compromising drivers’ earnings.

The launch comes at a time when Lagos commuters are facing rising transport costs, while drivers continue to grapple with increasing expenses linked to fuel, vehicle maintenance, insurance and inflation. HABRide says its business model has been designed specifically around Nigeria’s urban transport realities rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all pricing structure.

The company’s promoter, Otunba Hakeem Alobo-Bakare, said the platform aims to correct long-standing concerns over fare transparency and inaccurate route metering, which can leave drivers absorbing the cost of unexpected detours while passengers struggle with inflexible pricing.

According to Alobo-Bakare, HABRide’s pricing mechanism is intended to respond more accurately to real journey conditions, creating what the company describes as a fairer balance between passengers and drivers.

“Our goal is to build a platform where affordability and profitability can coexist. Drivers deserve sustainable earnings, and passengers deserve transparent, accurate fares,” Alobo-Bakare said.

Beyond pricing, HABRide is positioning itself as a technology-driven mobility ecosystem with multiple booking options designed to improve accessibility across different user groups.

In addition to the conventional mobile application, passengers will be able to book rides through WhatsApp using an automated chatbot that identifies their location and dispatches the nearest available driver. The company says this feature is particularly useful for users who prefer messaging platforms over downloading additional applications.

For elderly passengers and users requiring urgent transportation, HABRide is introducing a one-tap emergency booking feature. Rather than entering pickup and destination details manually, the system will use GPS to detect the passenger’s location and immediately connect them with the nearest driver.

Safety forms another cornerstone of the platform’s offering. HABRide plans to implement mandatory Know Your Customer verification for all drivers, alongside real-time ride tracking and an integrated emergency response system.

The proposed panic feature will allow users to activate audio and video recording during emergencies while simultaneously notifying emergency services and pre-selected family members or trusted contacts.

Recognising Nigeria’s uneven internet connectivity, the company is also developing low-data and offline booking capabilities, allowing passengers in areas with weak network coverage to continue accessing transportation services.

Unlike traditional ride-hailing platforms that focus primarily on passenger vehicles, HABRide intends to operate across multiple transport categories. The platform will accommodate private cars, dispatch motorcycles and pickup vans, enabling it to serve passenger transport, courier deliveries and logistics within a single digital ecosystem.

For drivers, the company says the platform is being designed as an income-generation ecosystem rather than simply a ride-dispatch application.

HABRide plans to introduce empowerment initiatives, employment partnerships and hire-purchase opportunities that could improve drivers’ access to electric vehicles. The initiative aligns with growing conversations around reducing the transport sector’s dependence on volatile fuel prices and lowering long-term operating costs.

Another feature expected at launch is a digital wallet that allows passengers to pre-fund transport expenses and automate fare payments.

The company says the wallet will also enable Nigerians living abroad to remotely fund transportation for relatives at home, including elderly family members who may require regular mobility support.

Despite its ambitious proposition, HABRide faces the realities of one of Africa’s most competitive mobility markets. Success in ride-hailing depends heavily on achieving a strong balance between driver availability and passenger demand, making driver acquisition, service reliability and customer retention critical to the platform’s commercial success.

Industry analysts say the November launch will provide an early indication of whether a locally developed mobility platform can gain meaningful market share by solving the economic pressures affecting both commuters and drivers.

For Lagos, Nigeria’s largest technology and transportation hub, HABRide’s arrival could intensify competition around pricing, safety, innovation and driver welfare, potentially reshaping the next phase of the city’s rapidly evolving e-hailing industry.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the 2026 UTME results for underage candidates, allowing them to check their performance after the results were previously withheld for further evaluation.

JAMB defines an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise as anyone who will be below 16 years old by September 30, 2026.

The Board said the release is primarily intended to allow candidates, parents and guardians to know how the candidates performed in the examination.

Candidates can check their results by sending “RESULT” via SMS to 55019 or 66019, using the same phone number and SIM card used during UTME registration.

JAMB, however, stressed that receiving and viewing the result does not automatically make an underage candidate eligible for admission into a tertiary institution.

According to the Board, the results cannot be used for admission or other official purposes except in cases involving candidates who satisfy the requirements for exceptional consideration.

Under the exceptional admission arrangement, candidates must demonstrate outstanding academic ability and meet the additional conditions set by JAMB and their institutions.

The release follows months of withholding the results of underage candidates who sat for the 2026 UTME. More than 38,000 underage candidates reportedly registered for the examination.

JAMB had earlier indicated that underage candidates seeking exceptional consideration would be required to meet a higher performance threshold and undergo additional screening before they could be considered for admission.

The Board’s latest decision therefore gives candidates access to their scores while maintaining a distinction between result release and admission eligibility.

Parents and candidates are advised to check the result using the registered phone number and to follow any further instructions issued by JAMB regarding exceptional admission consideration.

Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been honoured as a Christian Youth Peace Ambassador by the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, YOWICAN.

The recognition was presented during the National Christian Youth Security Summit and Thanksgiving held in Abuja, where YOWICAN highlighted Tinubu’s reported contributions to peace, youth development and national unity.

Tinubu was not physically present at the event. The honour was received on his behalf by Ambassador Belusochukwu Enwere, the immediate past National Chairman of YOWICAN.

In a message delivered at the ceremony, Tinubu expressed appreciation to YOWICAN for the recognition, describing it as a greater call to service and responsibility.

He said the honour had strengthened his determination to support initiatives focused on youth development, peace-building, unity and positive social impact.

Tinubu also offered a broader definition of peace, arguing that it goes beyond simply having no conflict. According to him, lasting peace requires justice, compassion, tolerance, mutual respect and a willingness to work towards the common good.

“Together, let us choose peace, promote love and build a Nigeria where every young person can dream, contribute and prosper,” he said.

He urged Nigerian youths to play an active role in building a united country, particularly by viewing religious, ethnic and cultural differences as strengths rather than sources of division.

The President’s son also commended YOWICAN for its efforts to mobilise Christian youths towards responsible leadership, community development, national unity and peaceful coexistence.

He pledged to continue supporting programmes aimed at empowering young Nigerians and promoting peaceful coexistence across the country.

The recognition formed part of a wider gathering focused on youth leadership, security, peace-building and nation-building. The summit also featured discussions on peaceful coexistence and youth participation in addressing Nigeria’s security and social challenges.

YOWICAN’s recognition of Tinubu comes at a time when youth involvement in peace-building and national development remains a major part of conversations around Nigeria’s future.

Through the honour, the Christian youth body has placed emphasis on the role of young Nigerians in promoting dialogue, unity and peaceful engagement across religious and ethnic lines.