From law to African mobility
Mary-Anne Momoh-Ige is the Public Policy and Government Affairs Manager( Africa), at inDrive. She shares her knowledge of African mobility with us.
Mary-Anne Momoh-Ige is a Nigerian lawyer with a sense of mission for African automotive and transport policy. With her experience in oil and gas, technology, and public policy, Mary-Anne was the ideal candidate when inDrive was seeking a government relations specialist for Africa in 2023.
Since joining inDrive, Mary-Anne has led policy across ten African markets, including the continent ' s most sophisticated automotive region: South Africa.
In her role, Mary-Anne addresses market demand for better mobility platforms that work for African drivers and users. And the reality of African road networks and operating conditions, which are different from other global zones where mobility platform operators operate. We spoke to Mary-Anne about what she does at inDrive, and where mobility regulatory policy is heading in Africa.
What excites you about working in Africa?
Our work is tangible. That excited me. When we secure a licence, a registration or a workable regulatory framework, the result is drivers earning lawfully and passengers moving safely.
Across the region, I have led regulatory engagement that secured formal recognition for the platform in key markets. That includes inDrive ' s e-hailing operator registration with South Africa ' s National Public Transport Regulator( NPTR). And licensing and market access work in Nigeria, Tanzania, and other countries across sub- Saharan Africa.
Where are the opportunities for mobility platforms?
The opportunity is enormous. Africa is young and urbanising fast; demand for safe, affordable transport far exceeds supply, and platforms create real earning opportunities for millions of driver partners.
The main challenge is regulatory fragmentation. No two markets are alike, and many frameworks were written for traditional taxis, so platforms are often assessed against rules that were never designed for them. That creates licensing uncertainty and long approval timelines.
The encouraging trend is that more regulators are adopting e-hailing-specific frameworks, and platforms that engage early and constructively are helping shape rules that protect the public while allowing innovation to thrive.
How is tech shaping solutions?
Technology brings visibility and accountability to journeys that were previously informal. Driver verification, GPS tracking and in-app safety features raise the safety baseline.
Affordability? inDrive ' s peer-to-peer model lets passengers and driver partners agree on a fair price together, with some of the lowest service fees in the industry, so more value stays with the people actually making the trip. Regarding access and data science, these mobility platforms extend reliable transport into underserved areas and generate insights that can help cities plan better mobility systems.
WORDS IN ACTION 38 OCTOBER 2026