LagRide fleet expansion adds 400 vehicles in Lagos as the platform targets 1,000 more Captains and 200,000 rides during the 2026 Ember Months

LagRide Executive Director Mildred Ekanem, LagRide Chairman Chief Diana Chen and Director of Public Relations Ifeanyi Abraham on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, flagged off a 400-vehicle expansion at the LagRide Centre in Alausa, Lagos, as the mobility platform prepares for increased transport demand during the Ember Months.

Also read: Freedom Online Lecture: Sanwo-Olu to Speak on Economy, Security, 2027

The deployment forms part of a wider plan to mobilise more than 1,000 additional Captains, LagRide’s term for its drivers, between September and December.

More than 100 newly inducted Captains drove out in new vehicles during the flag-off ceremony, marking the first phase of the rollout. The remaining vehicles are expected to enter service in stages across Lagos.

The company is targeting more than 200,000 rides during the Ember Months, when business activity, tourism, airport traffic, entertainment and end-of-year events typically place additional pressure on the city’s transport network.

The LagRide fleet expansion will also extend the platform’s coverage to communities including FESTAC, Ikorodu and Ajah, while increasing the number of Captains operating in areas already served by the company.

Ekanem said the expansion was intended to improve availability and reduce waiting times as movement across Lagos increases towards the end of the year.

“We already have over 2,000 LagRide vehicles on the road across Lagos, and we are expanding from that position of strength,” Ekanem said.

“The 400 vehicles being deployed are part of our immediate expansion, and between now and December, we are targeting the mobilisation of over 1,000 additional Captains.”

Ekanem added that the company’s priority was to ensure that customers could find available vehicles when demand rises.

“The Ember Months bring increased movement across Lagos, and we are preparing ahead of that demand. Our focus is expanded availability, wider coverage and ensuring that when customers need a LagRide, there are more Captains ready to serve them.”

The expansion comes as Lagos approaches its traditionally busy final quarter, when increased commercial activity and a packed social calendar can make movement around the metropolis particularly demanding.

For LagRide, the strategy is not limited to adding vehicles. The company said customer service, vehicle maintenance, technology and Captain professionalism would remain central to the expansion.

Its 24-hour customer service centre will continue to handle complaints, enquiries and cases involving items left behind in vehicles, while maintenance support is provided through infrastructure associated with CIG Group and GAC Motor.

The Alausa facility also operates as an express service centre for LagRide vehicles, a measure designed to reduce downtime and keep more vehicles available for passengers.

Chen said the investment had a broader purpose beyond meeting seasonal demand, linking the expansion to Lagos’ position as a major business, tourism and entertainment destination.

“LagRide is the face of transportation and tourism in Lagos,” Chen said. “As the city welcomes residents, visitors, tourists and returning Nigerians, transportation must be ready to match the scale and energy of Lagos.”

Chen said the programme would also create opportunities for professional drivers while encouraging more passengers to use the platform.

The new deployment will further expand participation in LagRide’s Drive-to-Own programme, which provides a structured route from vehicle rental towards ownership for qualifying Captains.

Under the scheme, Captains undergo an initial 90-day rental period before becoming eligible to transition towards vehicle ownership, subject to performance requirements.

The programme has previously been supported by a $100 million financing partnership between LagRide and United Bank for Africa, with the broader Drive-to-Own initiative targeting the deployment of 3,500 vehicles.

The ownership pathway has also become an important part of LagRide’s pitch to drivers. In June, the company said participating Captains had reported substantial improvements in income and financial stability, with some claiming earnings of up to ₦1 million weekly.

For newly inducted Captains, the immediate attraction is the opportunity to earn while operating a structured vehicle platform, with eventual ownership providing a longer-term incentive.

Deborah Adeyemi, who has about three years of driving experience, said the platform offered an opportunity to earn while retaining flexibility over her working hours.

Another new Captain, Mustapha Kayode Abdullahi, said his goal was to generate sustainable income and eventually own the vehicle through the Drive-to-Own programme.

Abraham urged the new Captains to recognise that their conduct would shape passengers’ perception of the service.

“We want our Captains to wear the LagRide identity with pride. Every time you pick up a customer, you are representing LagRide and you are representing Lagos,” Abraham said.

The company’s latest expansion builds on a pattern of fleet growth ahead of peak travel periods. In 2025, LagRide announced plans to bring 10,000 additional drivers onto its platform ahead of the Yuletide season.

The current programme is more targeted, with 400 vehicles being deployed immediately and more than 1,000 additional Captains expected before December.

As the rollout continues, LagRide will be hoping that the additional capacity translates into shorter waits, wider coverage and a more dependable experience for passengers during one of Lagos’ most active periods of the year.

Also read: Champions League: UEFA unveils debut patches for first-timers

For the drivers, the programme offers a potentially significant opportunity to turn seasonal demand into income and, for qualifying participants, a pathway towards owning the vehicles they operate.