Digital taxi-hailing company Bolt partnered with National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and National Youth Service (NYS) to support the government’s boda boda training programme.

Bolt said the partnership will see the firm support the National Boda Boda riders training and certification on road safety that was launched in February to tackle rising boda boda accidents.

During the launch, Bolt donated more than 120 Boda Boda safety gears including helmets, reflective jackets and first-aid kits to NTSA and NYS.

The taxi-hailing platform undertook to offer business opportunities, on a priority basis, to the Boda Boda riders who will complete the national training exercise.

“We are pleased to be part of this great initiative and to support the NTSA and NYS to make this Programme a success. We are working every day to ensure the drivers and riders on the Bolt platform are providing safe, reliable and efficient services”, said Bolt East African General Manager Micah Kenneth.

According to data from NTSA, released on November 11, 2020, road carnage continues to rise with current road accident statistics showing a 5.8 per cent rise in fatalities as of October 31, 2020.

The report showed road accidents had claimed 3,114 lives compared to 2,942 during a similar period in 2019, with 6,938 serious injuries and 5,186 slight injuries also recorded last year.

Close to 50 per cent of victims of the said road fatalities and injuries are pedestrians, followed by Boda Boda riders and pillion passengers.

The National Youth Service is currently conducting nationwide training in collaboration with NTSA, Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government and the Ministry of ICT.