The ongoing online feud between Nigerians and South Africans escalated on Thursday morning as both sides engaged in a new round of rivalry.
Citizens from the two countries targeted each other by ordering e-hailing rides from the opposing nation, only to cancel them upon the drivers’ arrival at the pick-up locations.
The incident reportedly began with South Africans ordering Bolt and Uber rides in Nigeria and canceling them once the drivers arrived. In response, Nigerians launched a similar campaign, using the e-hailing apps to disrupt services in South Africa.
Nigerians on the platform were seen rallying others to join in the effort, emphasizing their strength in numbers.
Many Nigerian users mocked South Africans for initiating a ‘war’ they couldn’t win, given Nigeria’s significant population of over 200 million, the largest in Africa.
Several reactions have followed the actions of citizens from both countries.
An X user commenting on the ongoing trends, @oyigaMicheal wrote, “South Africans started this challenge where they’ll order bolt from Lagos to spite Nigerians. Nigerians countered and started Ordering bolt and pay on delivery items to get back to them. DJ play me Asake, Hating is a lifestyle. hating. Hating hating. Hating is a part of us.”
Another X user, @iamfeezah wrote, “South Africans are cruel with the Bolt thing they started, but you know what is also cruel? The Nigerians retaliating, because you know who is suffering at the end of the day? Innocent people trying to feed their families.”
Reacting also, @Hafymo wrote, “Y’all spend all day and all night thinking of Nigerians in Nigeria. This is a scary kind of obsession that you South Africans have with Nigerians. Do you think this is normal behavior? This is mental illness. You are going crazy over a country thousands of miles away.”
@Ojiugo said, “South Africans are now booking rides from their country and wasting Nigerian drivers time in this fuel scarcity. If Nigeria retaliate now, they’ll start crying . This is hatred and stupidity taken too far.”
@TheMaleek also wrote, “South Africans are making ride orders from their country just to stress bolt drivers in Nigeria and even cause a surge?? They should ask around, Nigerians are the craziest set of people they will ever meet. We no dey tire for here😂😂😂.”
Recently, a Nigerian girl born to both Nigeria and South African parents, Chidimma Adetshina,quit the Miss South Africa beauty pageant after the South Africans trolled her for her nationality and alleged that her mother had a stolen identity.
The reactions from the South Africans created an outpouring of anger on Nigerian social media at the treatment of Chidimma Adetshina.
In response to the news of her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant the organizers of the Miss Universe Nigeria invited her to participate in their competition, which she accepted.
Futher reactions followed the emergence of Mia Le Roux, a descendant of the Dutch settlers in South Africa, Boers, who was crowned Miss South Africa 2024 and and Burna Boy reacting to the post shared a photo of the white winner via his X account with the caption, “So after all that… [laugh emoji],” alluding to black South Africans’ attacks on Chidimma Adetshina.
