MAX Drive partners with Osun State Government, roll out 1,000 tricycles
The government of Osun is the most recent to enter the mobility sector. On Thursday, March 10, it announced a partnership with Metro Africa Xpress (MAX) Drive to distribute “1,000 tricycles to alleviate transportation burdens” in the state.
“The Government of the State of Osun, led by Governor Gboyega Oyetola, has inaugurated 1,000 tricycles to ease transportation burden for the citizens of the State,” MAX Drive tweeted.
Oshogbo it’s time to #RidewithMAX
In Collaboration with MAX
“ The Government of the State of Osun under the leadership of Governor Gboyega Oyetola has inaugurated 1,000 tricycles to ease transportation burden for the citizens of the State “#MaxKeke #Oshogbo #Mobility pic.twitter.com/5ZjV509Qb5— MAX (@maxdrive_ai) March 10, 2022
Go a step further: Max Drive has gradually built its momentum in the rapidly saturated e-mobility industry across the country by forming partnerships with governments hesitant to support motorcycles.
In 2020, it entered into a partnership with the government of Ekiti to help “digitise operations of commercial motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles (Keke)” in the state.
Ekiti partners mobility startup, https://t.co/k6zspL0TRo to digitise informal transport sector
The Government of Ekiti State has partnered with an on-demand mobility startup, Metro Africa Xpress (MAX) to digitise operations of commercial motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles (Keke). pic.twitter.com/EdC5D5dC0Z
— Government of Ekiti State (@ekitistategov) August 28, 2020
This new collaboration comes only a few months after discussions in the executive branch of the government focused on how to impose more restrictions on okadas in Osun.
Just before the end of December 2021, the Field Commandant of Osun’s Amotekun Corps, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, called for okadas in the state to be prohibited from working at night. Shittu contended that it was the best way to reduce criminal activity in the state.
The Osun government has taken a tough stance on commercial motorcycles in the state, halting registration of okada riders in 2020 out of concern that many riders fleeing the Lagos ban on okadas would enter the state.
Toke Olaniyan, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Transport at the time, issued a press statement in which he advised the public that “any strange motorcycle operator should be reported immediately to the security agencies.”
A new story: Tricycles appear to be the next best thing for Osun Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
Where exactly is Lagos? MAX has joined a long list of ride-hailing companies that have left Lagos as the government’s e-mobility strategy becomes more uncertain and bleak.
In 2019, MAX was in talks with the Lagos government for what could have been a partnership after raising $7 million in a funding round led by Novastar Ventures and Japanese manufacturer, Yamaha.
Nonetheless, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu backed down, later banning MAX, GoKada, and other ride-hailing companies in the state. This comes after GoKada pledged to plant 100,000 trees in Lagos over the next five years, beginning with 10,000 in 2019.
Despite the fact that Lagos launched its own ride-hailing company, Lagos Ride, a few weeks ago, it appears that the caravan has left the state.
This collaboration between MAX and the Osun government is just the beginning of what is to come from MAX Drive. It announced in December 2021 that it had raised $31 million in a Series B investment round to expand into other African markets.
