Nigeria killed drone business with excessive “licensing requirement” which required getting clearance from the top national security apparatus in the nation. Besides, you need to pay a fee of $4,000 to register and fly a drone in Nigeria. In our business, we were developing Zenvus Drone for farming when the rules were passed. Immediately, we exited anything about drones, and wrote letters to Imo and Abia states police commands that we had exited anything related to drone development. My concern was the safety of my team since the IPOB heat was deep-active then. So, drone has been killed in Nigeria as there is no way any civilian drone usage can work with $4,000 registration fee. Government has done it, as always: kill ideas. Yes, there is no security concern they cannot manage along with drone if they truly want to!
But that drone experience pales to the Lagos state N25 million ($70,000) annual licensing requirement for motorbikes: “Under the proposed regulation, each startup will pay annual licensing fees of 25 million naira ($70,000) per 1,000 bikes and then 30,000 naira ($83) per bike after the first set of 1,000.” With this new regulation, if it is not reversed, the motorbike ride-hailing sub-sector will simply fold especially for indigenous players which may not have the resources for this game.
The state government has proposed new regulation, including licensing fees, required for them to operate as part of local transportation infrastructure. Under the proposed regulation, each startup will pay annual licensing fees of 25 million naira ($70,000) per 1,000 bikes and then 30,000 naira ($83) per bike after the first set of 1,000. The startups will also still be expected to pay annual taxes on revenue. Gokada, Oride and Max.ng, three of the major startups in the space, all have over 1,000 riders signed up to their service.
Government is evidently interested that these companies are raising tons of money, and wants to get its portion despite any concern of perceived nuisance of the bikes. Government may not know that the money does not belong to the startups as the funds are for missions: build the companies. Gokada recently raised $5.3 million while Max picked $7 million; ORide came with truckloads of excess of $50 million. So, relatively, they should afford the fees. Not really: the funds they raised are not designed for paying fees to governments. I am confident that if this is not resolved, investors will trigger for call-back for portions not yet deployed! The regulatory change is a clear factor to make such calls.
Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and invest in Africa’s finest startups here.
And when you add that Lagos state is not Nigeria, the complications intensify. Yes, other states can put their own fees and demand just huge fees like Lagos is asking. Under that ecosystem, there is no way these companies can function.
---
Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA (Feb 10 - May 3, 2025), and join Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe and our global faculty; click here.
A nation of contradictions…
A country that is never a beacon on safety and security will offer lame excuse for practically banning use of drones, and we are now very well secured, with safety incorporated in the national anthem…
The same way we shout broadband penetration, but try obtaining right of way from most state governments, you could be tempted to think if you are dealing with witchcrafts or responsible humans.
Once our governments at various levels hear sound of money, the next thing that comes to their heads is: our cut!
Between stupidity and wickedness, one must be the reason why Nigeria is in this shape.
Very unfortunate because the sound if that is what triggers this may even make founders to stop public announcement when they raise capital.
i saw this happening, i even discussed this with a friend last week. they are just waiting for these companies to announce how much they have raised and boom they are handed bills.
quite unfortunate that these momentum stoppers are lurking around everywhere in this country.
Lagos especially… Everything the state Government want to eat from it. Demon’s in government.
This is now the main question… Is there any hope for Startups and ideas….. The fear of starting only to be crushed by the Government with exorbitant license fees and taxes annually when you have not started making profit….All for their own pocket….That is what happens when we have incompetent people in Government dishing out policies….
Very painful. I do hope they cancel the regulation
“When you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing…..you may know that your society is doomed” – Ayn Rand