Uber has ended its 12-year run in Nigeria, bringing its ride-hailing services in the country to a close on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, following a review of its business operations.

The global mobility company announced the decision in a message to Nigerian users, saying it had taken the difficult decision to wind down its operations in Nigeria and Uganda after a “thorough review.” The company said the move is limited to the two markets and does not affect its operations elsewhere in Africa.

Uber first entered the Nigerian market in 2014, launching its service in Lagos before expanding its presence and becoming one of the country’s major app-based transportation platforms.

For more than a decade, the company connected passengers with independent drivers through its mobile application, changing how many Nigerians moved around major cities.

In its farewell message to customers, Uber acknowledged the role Nigerians played in its growth and apologised for the disruption that its departure could cause to riders who had become dependent on the platform for their daily transportation needs.

The company said its immediate priority was to support its drivers, riders and local team members during the transition.

A major change for Nigeria’s ride-hailing industry

Uber’s departure represents a significant shift in Nigeria’s increasingly competitive ride-hailing market.

The company entered Nigeria when app-based transportation was still relatively new and helped establish a model in which passengers could request rides, track drivers and make payments through a digital platform.

Over the years, however, the Nigerian market became increasingly competitive, with platforms such as Bolt and inDrive expanding their customer bases and offering alternative pricing models.

Uber’s operations also faced challenges from drivers over fares, commission rates and working conditions, with protests reported at different points during its Nigerian operations.

Despite those challenges, Uber remained a recognisable name in Nigeria’s urban transportation sector and its exit is expected to create an immediate adjustment for both riders and drivers who used the platform.

The company did not publicly give a detailed breakdown of the financial or operational factors behind its decision, beyond saying that the withdrawal followed a thorough review of its business.

Uber also stressed that its departure from Nigeria and Uganda should not be interpreted as an exit from the wider African market, as the company said it remains committed to other markets across the continent.

The company has asked customers with outstanding account-related enquiries to contact its support channels during the transition period. According to the notice issued to Nigerian users, the help centre will remain available until September 23, 2026, for final account enquiries.

The exit also comes on the same day Uber announced a separate major restructuring of its global workforce.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the company would reduce its global workforce by about 10 per cent, or approximately 3,300 employees, as part of efforts to simplify its organisational structure, reduce management layers and redirect resources towards major growth opportunities, including autonomous vehicles.

However, the company has not said that the global job cuts were the direct reason for its decision to leave Nigeria.

For Nigerian consumers, the immediate impact will be the loss of another major ride-hailing option, while drivers who depended on the platform for income will also have to adjust to the changing market.

Uber’s 12-year presence helped shape Nigeria’s modern ride-hailing industry, but its departure leaves competitors with a larger opportunity to attract its former riders and drivers.

As the shutdown takes effect, the Nigerian transportation technology market is expected to enter a new phase, with existing platforms competing more aggressively for customers and drivers left behind by Uber’s exit.