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TGM Global Ride-Hailing & Food Delivery Insights 2024
AFRICA Ride-Hailing and Food Delivery Trends 2024

How Ride-Hailing and Delivery Platforms Solve Africa’s Challenges

In Africa, digital platforms like ride-hailing and food delivery are doing more than just offering convenience. They are solving real and urgent problems. In many cities, people turn to these services not just because they are faster, but because they are safer and more reliable than public options.

How Ride-Hailing and Delivery Platforms Solve Africa’s Challenges

Ride-hailing Insights across 30 countries
Written by
TGM Marketing Team
TGM Marketing Team
We're a team of storytellers, here to give you the strategic clarity you need to stay ahead in a constantly changing global market.
This article draws on key insights from the TGM Global Ride-Hailing Insights 2024 and TGM Global Food Delivery Report 2024, offering a detailed look at emerging trends, market dynamics, and their implications for businesses in 2025. With a focus on Africa, an increasingly important market for the on-demand economy, we explore how safety and accessibility are driving widespread adoption. Whether you're an industry professional or simply curious about the evolving role of digital platforms, these insights reveal a powerful shift in how people depend on them.

Safety First: The Core Driver of Adoption

In Africa, ride-hailing isn’t just about skipping traffic or arriving in style. It’s about getting home safely.
Many African cities face persistent challenges such as poor street lighting, limited police presence, and elevated crime risks. In these environments, walking or using informal public transport after dark isn’t just inconvenient. It can be dangerous.
According to TGM’s report, 38% of ride-hailing users in Africa cite safety as their main reason for using the service at night. This is especially true in South Africa, where 39% of respondents turn to ride-hailing primarily for safety. These platforms offer a more secure and predictable alternative, with features like verified drivers, real-time tracking, and digital payments, providing not just transport, but peace of mind.

Food delivery tells a similar story. 11% of African respondents reported using food delivery services during health crises, particularly during the pandemic, as a safer way to access meals. These are not just acts of convenience but are of necessity, especially in settings where other options may be unsafe or unavailable.

38% of ride-hailing users in Africa cite safety as their main reason for using the service at night
In Africa, safety isn’t an added benefit. It’s the foundation. In cities with growing digital adoption and real safety concerns, these platforms have become essential to daily life.

How Platforms Solve Africa’s Daily Access Issues

Where public systems fall short, tech platforms step in.
Top reasons for using ride-hailing service in Africa
Where public services are limited or unreliable, tech platforms are filling the gap. In many African cities, public transportation is infrequent, overcrowded, or entirely missing in underserved areas. According to TGM’s report, 27% of African users rely on ride-hailing to reach areas poorly served by public transit - a figure that rises to 32% in Nigeria.

Access to transportation also becomes critical in moments when a personal vehicle is unavailable. 34% of African respondents said they use ride-hailing services when their car is being repaired or otherwise inaccessible. The ability to summon transport on demand makes these platforms indispensable in unexpected situations that show how, at times, they become the most practical and reliable option.

Food delivery meets similar needs. 25% of users rely on delivery when they are sick or unable to leave home. During heavy rains, heatwaves, or poor road conditions, delivery becomes more than a convenience, it becomes a lifeline. TGM’s report shows that 15% of African respondents use food delivery during extreme weather. And with 41% of respondents reporting they don’t own a car, delivery becomes even more vital for everyday access to food.

These platforms enable mobility, access, and autonomy especially in cities where infrastructure is limited and car ownership remains out of reach for many.

Reasons for using food delivery service in Africa

What This Means for Businesses

For businesses operating in Africa, these trends send a clear signal: you’re not just offering a service but you’re solving real, unmet needs. In many cases, these are gaps that governments have yet to address.

Positioning is everything. The companies that succeed won’t be those simply applying global strategies, they’ll be the ones who:

  • Expand into underserved areas
  • Prioritize user safety and trust
  • Design for fluctuating connectivity and diverse income levels
There’s also a significant opportunity for collaboration with public institutions. These platforms collect real-time data on movement patterns, demand trends, and infrastructure weaknesses that could be shared with policymakers to build smarter, more inclusive urban systems.

As the line between digital platforms and essential public services continues to blur, businesses have a rare opportunity to lead with both innovation and impact.

Why Digital Platforms Matter More in Africa

In much of the world, digital platforms are still seen through a lens of speed and convenience. In Africa, they represent something more profound: safety, survival, and inclusion.

TGM’s findings make one thing very clear: African consumers aren’t choosing these platforms because they’re easier. They’re choosing them because they’re essential.

As urban challenges grow and infrastructure strains under pressure, companies that understand and build for these deeper needs won’t just capture market share but they’ll shape the future of life in African cities.

For a deeper understanding of the food delivery market in specific countries, purchase the country report for exclusive insights into local trends and consumer behaviors.
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