Uber ends Nigerian operations after 12 years in market

Abimbola Joseph

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

The company said its decision to wind down its Nigerian business took effect on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, following a review of its operations.

Uber entered the Nigerian market in 2014, launching first in Lagos before expanding its ride-hailing services to other major cities. Its departure marks a significant change in Nigeria’s increasingly competitive urban transport and mobility sector.

In a message to customers, the company said it had made the decision after a “thorough review” of its business.

“Since we first launched in Lagos in 2014, it has been an absolute privilege to be a part of your daily life,” the company said, while apologising for the disruption its departure could cause users.

Uber also thanked customers who had used its platform for daily commutes, visits and other journeys, saying it appreciated the trust they had placed in the service.

The company’s exit comes as it simultaneously undertakes a major restructuring of its global workforce.

Uber’s Chief Executive Officer, Dara Khosrowshahi, said the company would cut about 10 per cent of its workforce, equivalent to roughly 3,300 jobs.

According to Khosrowshahi, the restructuring is aimed at simplifying the company’s management structure, reducing layers of bureaucracy and allowing it to concentrate resources on areas it considers having the greatest potential for growth.

He said Uber had expanded substantially over the past five years, with its revenue nearly tripling as it introduced new products, entered additional businesses and increased its reach.

However, the expansion had also created a more complicated organisational structure, with additional layers of management, fragmented responsibilities and increased coordination, he said.

Khosrowshahi said the restructuring was therefore intended to create a leaner organisation capable of making decisions more quickly while freeing up resources for investment in growth and innovation.

He added that the company planned to continue investing in drivers, couriers and merchants while developing its core businesses and autonomous-vehicle technology.

The latest job cuts follow earlier reductions in Uber’s workforce, including positions in customer service and human resources.

Uber did not provide detailed reasons specific to its decision to leave Nigeria beyond its statement that it followed a review of the business.

The departure leaves thousands of Nigerian drivers and riders who relied on the platform for income and transportation facing a new phase in the country’s ride-hailing market, where local and international operators compete for passengers.

For consumers, Uber’s exit is likely to reshape competition in the sector and could alter the choices available to commuters in cities where the company operated.