Uber has ended its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria, bringing its 12-year presence in Africa’s most populous country to a close. The U.S.-based company said its Nigerian operations ceased Sept. 2, 2026, following a review of its business priorities and investment focus across Africa. Uber also announced its withdrawal from Uganda, while saying the decision would not affect its operations in other African markets.
“After a thorough review of our business, we have made the tough decision to wind down our operations in Nigeria,” the company said in a message to customers.
Uber apologized for the disruption and thanked Nigerians who had used the platform for daily commutes, visits to family and other journeys. Its Help Center will remain available until Sept. 23 to address outstanding account and transition-related questions.
The company has not publicly identified a single reason for leaving Nigeria. The country’s ride-hailing industry has faced mounting pressures from fuel costs, inflation, currency volatility and increasing competition, all of which have raised operating costs for companies and drivers.
Uber’s departure also comes amid recent tensions over app-based transportation at Nigerian airports. On July 30, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria directed airport managers to stop Uber and Bolt from commercial operations at airports managed by the authority pending the finalization of licensing agreements. The directive triggered concerns over higher transportation costs before aviation authorities moved to address the dispute.
Uber, however, has specifically said its decision to leave Nigeria was not related to the airport directive. The company attributed the withdrawal to changing business priorities and where it believes investment can generate the greatest value and earning opportunities for drivers.
The exit marks the end of a significant chapter in Nigeria’s transportation history. Uber launched in Lagos in 2014, at a time when smartphone-based ride-hailing was still a relatively new concept in the country. It later expanded to Abuja in 2016 and helped popularize a model in which passengers could request rides, track drivers and make payments through a mobile application.
Its arrival helped accelerate the transformation of urban transportation in Nigeria. Traditional taxis and informal transport had long dominated major cities, but Uber’s model introduced greater reliance on digital platforms and created new income opportunities for vehicle owners and drivers.
The company also helped establish the competitive environment that later attracted and strengthened rivals such as Bolt and several Nigerian-founded mobility platforms. Over the years, ride-hailing became an increasingly familiar part of urban life, particularly in Lagos and Abuja.
But the economics of the sector have become more difficult. Nigeria’s broader cost-of-living crisis, fuel-price increases and naira volatility have placed pressure on both drivers and passengers. Drivers face higher vehicle maintenance and fuel expenses, while platforms must balance competitive fares with the need to sustain their operations.
Uber’s withdrawal does not mean the company is abandoning Africa. It has said it remains committed to sub-Saharan Africa, which it continues to view as a region with significant long-term growth potential. The decision instead reflects a more selective approach to where the company deploys capital and resources.
The Nigerian exit is also taking place as Uber restructures its global business. The company announced plans to cut about 3,300 corporate jobs, or roughly 10% of its workforce, as part of an effort to simplify its organization and redirect resources toward strategic growth areas, including autonomous transportation.
For Nigerian riders, the immediate impact is a reduction in choice in an industry that has become deeply integrated into everyday urban mobility. For drivers and other workers connected to the platform, the closure means adjusting to a market in which competing services are likely to become even more important.
Uber’s 12-year Nigerian story therefore ends not simply as the departure of a multinational company, but as a reflection of the difficult economics of operating a technology-driven transportation business in a rapidly changing emerging market.
From its 2014 arrival in Lagos to its Sept. 2, 2026, exit, Uber played a major role in changing how millions of Nigerians moved around their cities. Its departure leaves behind a ride-hailing industry that is more established, more competitive and considerably different from the one the company entered 12 years ago.
