BREAKING: Uber Quits Nigeria After 12 Years, Cites Changing Business Priorities

Global ride-hailing giant Uber has ended its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria, bringing its 12-year presence in the country to a close.

Uber announced the decision on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, saying it would wind down its operations in Nigeria following a review of its business priorities and investment focus across Africa.

The company, which launched its service in Lagos in 2014, said the decision takes effect immediately.

“After a thorough review, we have taken the difficult decision to wind down operations in Nigeria and Uganda, effective September 2, 2026,” Uber said in a statement.

Uber stressed that the decision is limited to Nigeria and Uganda and does not represent a withdrawal from the wider African market.

The company said it remains committed to Sub-Saharan Africa, which it described as a region with strong growth prospects and long-term opportunities.

Why Uber is leaving Nigeria

Uber attributed its Nigerian exit to its “evolving business priorities and investment focus across the continent.”

The company said it was concentrating investments on markets where it could create the greatest value for drivers by providing earning opportunities at scale while allowing passengers to move around seamlessly.

Uber did not cite regulatory difficulties in Nigeria as the reason for its withdrawal.

The company also specifically denied that its decision was linked to a recent directive by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) concerning e-hailing operations at Nigerian airports.

“No,” Uber said when asked whether the FAAN directive was responsible for its decision.

FAAN had recently clarified that it had not imposed a blanket ban on e-hailing services at Nigerian airports, explaining that discussions with operators were focused on establishing an appropriate framework for their operations within airport premises.

Drivers, riders affected

Uber said its immediate priority is supporting drivers, riders and employees affected by the shutdown.

The company said it is communicating directly with affected stakeholders about the implications of the decision and arrangements for the transition.

Uber has operated in Nigeria for more than a decade, expanding beyond Lagos to several cities, including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Enugu, Kano and other major urban centres.

Its departure is expected to reshape Nigeria’s increasingly competitive ride-hailing market, where operators compete for passengers and drivers amid rising operating costs and evolving regulatory requirements.

End of an era

Uber’s exit marks the end of a significant chapter in Nigeria’s digital transport industry.

The company helped popularise app-based ride-hailing in the country after launching in Lagos in 2014, offering passengers an alternative to conventional taxi services and creating new earning opportunities for thousands of drivers.

Its withdrawal also comes at a time when ride-hailing companies across Africa are reassessing their operations and investment strategies.

Uber previously withdrew from Côte d’Ivoire in 2025 and ended operations in Tanzania in January 2026, reflecting the challenges global mobility platforms can face in adapting their business models to individual African markets.

For Nigerian passengers and drivers, however, the immediate question is what Uber’s departure will mean for competition, fares, driver earnings and service availability.

While Uber is leaving Nigeria, the company maintains that its broader commitment to Sub-Saharan Africa remains intact.

The exit therefore represents a strategic withdrawal from the Nigerian market rather than a retreat from Africa, according to the company.