Plentywaka launches a new car-hailing service, WakaCab in Delta State

Plentywaka, a Nigerian bus-hailing startup launches a new car-hailing service, WakaCab for commuters within South-South region in Nigeria — Delta State starting with Asaba. According to the company, Plentywaka will also expand its car-hailing service to Warri.  

In a recent move, Plentywaka had partnered with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM), an indigenous automotive manufacturer to expand its reach into the Southeastern states in Nigeria. 

With WakaCab, commuters can book personal and shared rides on the Plentywaka’s app which is available on Google Playstore and the IOS App store. They can select a driver within a one to five-kilometre radius and a QR code will be issued to them. This will be scanned upon entering the vehicle and payments will be made via cash or Plentywaka’s e-wallet system, Wakapurse.

The company also announced that it will introduce its Plentywaka Vehicle Partnership (PVP) scheme to the city. Comparable to the Uber-style model, this scheme allows users to register their vehicles on the Plentywaka app and earn over ₦250,000 ($657) per month. However, to become a driver on the Plentywaka’s PVP scheme, there is a need to pass the company’s official training scheme and vehicle inspection.

Plentywaka’s President and Co-Founder, Johnny Enagwolor said this about the launch:

Expanding the Plentywaka brand into Delta State with a car-hailing service, after launching in 2019 is a testament to our success and the importance of staying true to the vision. But it also shows our commitment to solving the issues of transport in Nigeria, and that does not necessarily mean a one size fits all approach to each state. We recognised that there was a large shortfall in a private car and technology-driven services compared to the other states we operate in, therefore the proposition had to be different for Asaba and Warri.

The bus-hailing startup appears to be swimming with the tide in face of the global pandemic that has affected many businesses. This is evident in how Plentywaka launched Logistics by Plentywaka and Staff Bus Solutions in response to the challenges of COVID-19. It’s worth noting that amidst the pandemic, the company also raised $300,000 pre-seed investment in a round led by EMFATO, Microtraction and Niche Capital and also expanded to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.

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