The ride-hailing and urban services company inDrive has announced applications for a new and unconventional position titled Chief Wahala Officer (CWO)—a role created to spotlight the daily movement struggles experienced by residents of Lagos while also celebrating how people adapt to them with humour, creativity, and resilience.
Rather than a traditional corporate job, the CWO initiative is positioned as a public-facing campaign that reflects the realities of commuting in a fast-paced megacity where traffic congestion, delivery delays, and unpredictable movement patterns are part of everyday life.
Turning “wahala” into a workplace brief
According to the company, the Chief Wahala Officer will be responsible for identifying the many forms of “Lagos wahala” tied to transportation and delivery, while also highlighting practical ways residents cope with them. The role is also expected to represent commuter frustrations in a relatable and engaging way.
Applicants are expected to have at least five years of experience navigating Lagos transport systems, with strong familiarity with local routes, traffic behaviour, and delivery challenges. The company also emphasised the need for composure under pressure, alongside strong communication skills and community influence.
Preference will be given to individuals who can combine lived experience with public engagement skills—especially those who understand the realities faced by small business owners, dispatch riders, and daily commuters.
Cash prizes for top “wahala navigators”
Beyond visibility and recognition, the campaign also includes financial rewards. Two standout applicants selected for the role will receive cash prizes of ₦1 million and ₦500,000 respectively, based on their relevance, creativity, and ability to reflect everyday urban transport experiences.
Company says initiative is rooted in real commuter experiences
Speaking on the campaign, Country Manager of inDrive Nigeria, Oladimeji Timothy, explained that the idea goes beyond entertainment and is intended to deepen engagement with the communities the platform serves.
He said:
“At inDrive, we believe that understanding people’s everyday experiences is essential to building solutions that truly serve them. Lagos is one of the most vibrant cities in the world, but it also comes with its own unique movement challenges. Through the Chief Wahala Officer hiring, we want to celebrate the people who navigate these realities every day while creating a fun, relatable platform for conversations about urban mobility,”
The initiative, according to him, reflects the company’s aim to connect more closely with Lagosians who regularly deal with traffic congestion, delivery delays, and unpredictable commuting conditions.
How Lagosians can apply
Participation is open to residents with firsthand experience of the city’s transport ecosystem. Interested applicants are encouraged to create and share relatable content on TikTok or Instagram using the hashtag #inDriveCWO, while tagging @indrive.ng to complete their submission.
A global mobility platform expanding its reach
inDrive operates as a global mobility and urban services platform with presence in over 1,000 cities across dozens of countries. The company reports hundreds of millions of app downloads globally and continues to expand beyond ride-hailing into intercity transport, delivery services, and financial products.
Its broader mission, according to the company, is to challenge unfair pricing systems in urban mobility while expanding access to fairer transport services across emerging and established markets alike.