On The Money is a Piggyvest editorial series that explores the personal stories and lived experiences behind the data points in the annual Piggyvest Savings Report.
On this episode of On The Money, we spoke to Joshua*, a 34-year-old Lagos-based e-hailing driver and the creator of Lagos Bolt Diaries. After starting out as a spray painter, moving into mini importation, and spending several years abroad, Joshua returned to Nigeria in 2025. He now runs a spray-painting business in Ondo State and drives in Lagos for additional income. In this interview, he talks about his journey, what he has learned from driving, how much he earns, and why he’s documenting the financial realities of the job online.
Did you ever imagine that you would be doing what you do today?
No, this is not what I imagined I’d be doing at all.
What did you imagine you’d be doing?
I thought I would be a doctor.
However, I have three younger sisters, and we were raised by my stepfather and mother, who managed day to day just to get by. So I didn’t further my education after secondary school.
I tried looking for a trade to learn, and that’s how I picked up spray painting cars. I was just 21 then. I apprenticed for two years before I became independent and opened my own shop.
That fast? How did you get money to start your own business at 23?
A man from our community helped me. He supported me by financing everything, even my shop.
So how did that go?
It wasn’t really what I wanted to do. I chose it because I needed a source of income. Personally, I like online businesses. I’ve always known there are ways to make money online, so why couldn’t I make money from it too?
I figured out how to do mini importation from China. Once I knew the steps involved, I started teaching others how to import and helping them import too. For those who wanted help with importing, I would help them order and ship their items, and I would charge them a 5% cut of the order value.
Once this business took off, I closed my spray-painting shop and focused on importing.
And how long did you run the spray-painting shop before moving into importation?
One year. As I said earlier, it wasn’t really my dream, but since I was already in it, I made a plan to run a standard spray-painting shop with proper equipment and employ professionals to be in charge of the day-to-day operations. That was also why I learned the work, because you have to be knowledgeable about a business before you invest in it.
So how did the importation business go?
After making enough money from the importation business, I moved to another country, where I spent about seven years. During that time, I looked for a way to source a spray booth from China and have it shipped to Nigeria, so I could set up the shop I always wanted.
In 2025, after seven years abroad, I returned to Nigeria.
Was that when you reopened your spray painting business?
No, I restarted it while I was abroad.
What was life like outside the country?
It wasn’t that hard. I was making some money, but there was no freedom per se. It was only work and home. The enjoyment was not there.
Sometimes I’d have enough money to visit a restaurant, but the food wasn’t what I was craving. Buying Nigerian food there is expensive, and sometimes it’s not even good. In Nigeria, if you have your money, you can enjoy the country.
What kind of jobs were you doing abroad?
The first time I tried to go was around 2018, but something happened, and I had to return to Nigeria. It took me another year to gather myself again, then I returned in 2019.
The first time I went, I tried working as a spray painter. But they needed professionals, not someone like me. In Nigeria, I thought I was doing very well, but over there—ah, it’s different. I was just wasting a lot of their chemicals.
Oh?
So when I went back the second time, I got a job as a waiter at a coffee shop. But I would also go inside to help the baristas, meaning I was doing two jobs while they were paying me for one. However, I did it so that I could learn.
After about six months, the manager said they needed baristas. Since I had been learning how to make coffee, I asked to take up the role. The manager gave me a test to make him coffee, and I did. He was impressed and made me a barista. Just like that, my pay increased.
Nice. Did you move on to another role?
No. That’s the job I did until I returned to Nigeria.
Your spray-painting business was already operating. So why did you decide to come back?
I had my fiancée back here. Also, while I was abroad, I had already built my house in Nigeria and set up my company. So I came home to get married and settle down.
After I returned in 2025, I bought a car. If I had my company, my wife, my house, and just enough money to be comfortable, why am I running around in a country where I’m not truly free?
Fair. So, as the boss of your company, you have people doing the spray painting work?
Yes. I don’t even remember how to spray again!
So did you start driving because you had some free time?
Yes. I had a car, my business is in Ondo State, and I live in Lagos. So I was like, okay, let me just go outside and get this additional daily income.
I kept seeing stories of drivers complaining that this job wasn’t paying, while others said they made ₦200k a day. So I was curious; I wanted to know what really happens. If there’s no money in it, why are so many drivers still working?
When did you start driving?
Last year.
And when did you start documenting your driving journey online?
The content started about a month ago. I wanted to be transparent about the realities of doing this job. I figured that documenting it would help people who want to enter this business.
Somebody has to start from somewhere. Some people have cars now, but because of what they’ve heard about the job, they are hesitant to start. That’s how I began. Now, a lot of drivers send me DMs saying the videos are helpful. Some want to start but are afraid of what they’ve heard about the business.
And how is that going so far?
It’s going very well. I have a Telegram group where I teach drivers strategies for managing their finances and cars, avoiding traffic offences, understanding where and why drivers lose money, how the system works, and how to make the most of this job.
There are currently 12 resources (documents, videos, and an ebook) that you get access to once you join. And I continuously share updates.
What has the reception been like?
There were a lot of negative comments on my very first video. People were saying things like: “There’s no money in this business” and “You will use all your money to maintain your car.”
But in my next video, I addressed those comments, and I noticed the negativity reduced. Now, I mostly see encouragement and support.
I also pinned the video explaining why I’m doing this on my profile. So whenever someone says something bad, I tell them to check my pinned video.
Now that you’ve been driving for a year, would you agree with some of these negative comments?
I can’t say they are lying. But I also think it’s because they don’t understand how this business works. The amount you earn depends heavily on the type of car you drive. If your car is old—maybe a 2001 or 2003 model—your earnings cannot be the same as someone driving a 2010 or 2011 model.
Really?
Yes. On Bolt, there is a Comfort category. If you are using a 2003 car, you cannot be on the Comfort level. And some of these people are using those old cars.
The maintenance of these cars is also a factor. Before you do this job, you have to know about cars, not just driving. When there’s a funny sound coming from your car, take note of it and fix it immediately. If you work like that for another two to three days, repairs will take all your profit.
This is interesting.
When I first started, I drove one week straight, non-stop. After that week, I noticed I had spent most of my profit on maintenance. So I stopped and tried driving one day on, one day off. Then I noticed my maintenance costs significantly reduced, and I kept more of my profit.
What does a full day look like? When do you leave home and how many trips do you take?
I always leave home early in the morning. I wake up between 5 am and 6 am, start driving around 6 or 7 am, and I stop working around 6 or 7 pm. I don’t like to work at night.
What’s an average full day’s gross?
On a good day, about ₦110,000 – ₦115,000 gross.
And how many trips does it take to earn that?
Suppose I take short trips, maybe 13. Suppose I have long trips, maybe 10. Longer trips bring in more money, though.
How many e-hailing platforms do you drive for?
Mostly Bolt. I just joined Uber recently.
What do the Bolt and Uber commissions look like?
Bolt is about 20-25%. I think Uber is around 25%.
Can you give me the actual numbers from your most recent day on the road?
It was yesterday. For Uber, I did only two trips: ₦20,900 before commission, and after their commission, I was left with ₦19,452.
For Bolt, my gross was ₦80,500, and after commission, I was left with ₦69,227.92.
What other expenses did you make yesterday?
I bought fuel for ₦35,000. There’s this filling station near a police station selling at ₦1,169 per litre, and that brought me to a net of ₦53,679 for the day.
Wow. What’s your take-home on a really good day versus a bad day?
On a good day, if your car is okay, you can make ₦60,000 to ₦70,000. On a bad day, maybe ₦35,000 or so.
What can turn a normal day into a bad day?
Taking a trip somewhere and coming back without another passenger. Or you have a problem with your car after you’ve already bought fuel.
Is there a way to ensure that you come back with a passenger, though?
You just have to study how the system works. There are some trips you accept only if the location is also your final destination.
For some areas, like Ikorodu, people are going back home but aren’t really coming back out at night. So you leave those trips for the drivers who are going back home themselves.
Are there parts of Lagos you won’t go?
I don’t like stress, so I generally avoid Marina. You can’t park anywhere; there are too many confusing one-way streets, and the map doesn’t always work well. I also don’t like going to Idumota because the traffic is too heavy.
Are there times or seasons that are better on the road?
When demand is high, there will be a surge, and those are good. But you can’t really say. But weekends are mostly good.
What’s your average monthly net income from driving?
Maybe ₦400,000 to ₦500,000.
Do you still make money from your spray-painting business?
Yes, but it’s not that significant because of the location. When your business is in an area where people don’t know the value, your potential is affected. That’s why I want to relocate the business to Lagos. It’ll be more profitable here.
Makes sense. How have you managed to run a business from a different location?
You can’t do it all yourself, so you just have to manage. I have someone I trust to run it; we started the business together, and he’s doing his best.
Your income can be quite unpredictable. How do you manage your money so it doesn’t run dry?
I save 30%. Whenever I work, I must save. If I don’t, it’s like I worked for free that day. So it’s 30% savings, 20% for expenses and other stuff, then 50% for myself.
Smart. How do you also keep your cash flow day to day?
There’s a video on my page where I fully explained how I keep my cash flow. I have two accounts. One is for savings, and the second one I use to receive money from my passengers.
The account I use to receive passenger money is a “fintech bank”, and I also use it to access credit. For instance, I recently took out an ₦80,000 loan with zero interest, payable in 15 days.
Then I used the money I borrowed to buy fuel. At the end of the day, whenever I receive money from customers, I deduct my profit and transfer it to my savings. I set a specific amount in the app, and they automatically deduct it from my balance until the ₦80,000 is paid off.
Do you have any goals you’re currently saving towards?
Yes. I’m saving to relocate my business to Lagos, because I know I can’t drive forever. I need a stable, steady source of income.
What will it cost to make this move?
We’re looking at over ₦1 million for logistics alone. And that’s excluding rent.
What’s your ultimate goal for your spray painting business?
I mentioned I didn’t love it at first, but along the line, I think I fell in love with it. My goal is to have more machines and equipment and to employ more people.
That’s why I named my business GT Motorstore. It’s all-encompassing. I also sell car accessories and consumables, which I import, on Konga.
A businessman.
The money I make online is not that much. Not yet. But I’m working towards it. That’s why I’m building an audience of car owners and drivers. So when I start promoting my business, my audience is within my reach.
I see the vision. What’s your goal for the near future?
In the coming years, I want a thriving business that provides constant cash flow. I want to be steadily receiving and sending out orders online. I really love doing business online. It’s soft work.
What does financial freedom mean to you?
It means peace of mind. When you have money, you don’t overthink or stress out over many things. That’s what I want. Peace of mind. It’s my number one priority.
What’s your dream monthly income?
If you give me ₦2 million today, I’ll still need more tomorrow!
But if I have like ₦400,000 to ₦500,000 coming in every month, steady, I’ll be very content. I have a house, and I have my family. I just want a lifestyle I can maintain.
Any advice or tips for aspiring e-hailing drivers or business people?
I recently paid ₦70,000 in fines when I went for my roadworthiness renewal: ₦50,000 for picking someone up at a “bus stop”. I saw the yellow buses and thought it was okay to park. It wasn’t. The second offence was ₦20,000 for parking in a spot where parking was prohibited.
I was pained, but since then I don’t pick people up unless it’s at a safe, proper pickup point. Don’t incur fines because you want to please a passenger.
And finally, save. When you save, it will save you. No matter what job you are doing, make sure you have an emergency fund. A financial safety net is one of the most important things to have.
