PayZeep’s Big Play: Powering a $200M Market, One Driver at a Time
Over the past decade, e-hailing companies in Nigeria have steadily expanded their footprint in the transportation sector. Since Uber pioneered app-based ride-hailing in Lagos in 2014, the industry has evolved from a novel concept into a vital part of urban mobility. Statista projects the Nigerian ride-hailing market will generate over $276 million in revenue by 2025, underlining its exponential growth. But as the market grows bigger, one small but persistent issue continues to slow it down: payment inefficiencies for drivers.
Unlike informal sector operators, such as local cabs and buses, app-based drivers often can’t accept cash and are entirely dependent on digital payment systems. This means they’re also at the mercy of delays, glitches, and settlement issues. Payment confirmations can take five to ten minutes or more, eating into valuable time and revenue. For a sector driven by speed and convenience, this lag is a silent drag on productivity. PayZeep's Executive Director/CEO, Ayodele Adeluka, summed up the issue well:
“Drivers deal with the everyday hassle of collecting fares, handling cash, and waiting for payments to settle. We see the struggle, and we've built a solution just for them.”
True to Cavista Holding’s mantra of creating value, our fintech subsidiary, payZeep (Paymi Solutions) has responded with a small, smart, and powerful innovation — Smallie.
Enter, Smallie
Smallie, the newest offering in PayZeep’s product suite, is a compact, mobile Point-of-Sale (mPOS) device designed specifically for on-the-go service providers like e-hailing drivers and other mobile vendors. Its biggest strengths are its portability and ease of use. Unlike traditional POS terminals that are bulky and not driver-friendly, Smallie is pocket-sized, intuitive, and delivers instant payment confirmations. For the drivers, this means no more awkward waiting times or interrupted trips.
Officially launched earlier this year, Smallie represents a clear extension of PayZeep’s mission to make seamless transactions accessible to all. Building on his earlier remarks, Adeluka emphasized the urgency of the solution:
“We’ve been focused on making payments faster, easier, and more reliable for businesses and individuals. But one group that needs this the most is our e-hailing drivers.”
Immediate Interest, Tangible Impact
Since its rollout, Smallie has quickly gained traction among drivers, especially through platforms like AUATON (Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria).
“My friends had been telling me about PayZeep, but I didn’t pay much attention,” said Lawal Oladimeji, a professional e-hailing driver in Lagos. “After it was posted on our AUATON group and I saw everyone opting in, I decided to try it. Now I get my payments instantly, and I can carry it in my pocket wherever I go.”
While some drivers joined out of curiosity or fear of missing out, many now cite Smallie’s convenience and speed as game-changers.
"I like PayZeep Smallie because I can put it in my pocket and take it anywhere. I also get my payments instantly now," Lawal added.
In a market projected to surpass $400 million in value by 2030, it’s easy to focus on the big numbers. But PayZeep’s Smallie reminds us that true innovation often lies in solving the small, overlooked problems that affect real people every day. By addressing a seemingly minor pain point with a compact, elegant solution, PayZeep is not just improving payment efficiency, it’s empowering drivers, unlocking productivity, and reinforcing the belief that business, when done right, is indeed a force for good.