Gokada: The Rise & End of the ‘Nigerian Uber- Taxify Okada’

Gokada Bikers

Gokada is a bike hailing service with hundreds of bikes, all 200cc. Like the familiar Uber & Taxify, it allows users to contact the company’s registered bikers via their Android/ IOS apps and direct them to the pickup location using GPS services. The cost is also calculated according to the distance covered as well as time and base fare. It was the first of its kind to break into the Nigerian/ Lagos market and it grew rapidly as people preferred it due to the heavy traffic which was a norm on Lagos roads. It was also preferred to other private bike services popularly called Okada, as the latter was seen to be careless on the road.

Fahim Saleh- CEO Gokada

Gokada was initially founded by a Nigerian- Deji Oduntan, and initially kicked off within Yaba and Island metropolis. The company rapidly grew with the advent of Investors, notably amongst them are Adventure Capital, which is based in New York and co-founded by Fahim Saleh. He would later become the CEO of Gokada. In all, Gokada was reported to have raised $5.6 million.

However, the sweet smell of blossom soon attracted other competitors, notable amongst them were ORide from Opera and Max.ng, with ORide seeming to take the spotlight.

However, before the bike hailing companies could settle on who had the throne, Lagos State Government banned all forms of bike services for human transportation, stating reasons and promising better alternatives which did not go down well with Lagosians.

Many were forced to trek distances not covered by buses or tricycles known as Keke. Others were forced to reschedule time for their daily activities to provide extra time to be “wasted” on traffic.

The CEO of Gokada- Fahim Saleh made a passionate video to the Government, detailing the good of his company in providing employment to hundreds of Nigerians as well as the huge sum about to be lost. It fell on deaf ears.

The world woke up today to the news that Fahim Saleh- CEO of Gokada was brutally murdered in his New York home, his body cut in pieces with a chain saw.

What do you have to say? Let’s read your thoughts in the comment section.

Read also: How Fahim Saleh, CEO of Gokada was Brutaly Murdered, Dismembered, in NY Home