Uber shuts down operations in Nigeria, Uganda

Global ride-hailing company Uber has announced plans to wind down its operations in Nigeria and Uganda, effective Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

In a statement shared with Nairametrics, the company said the decision followed a “thorough review” and was limited to the two markets, with no impact on its operations elsewhere in Africa.

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

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

Nairametrics can confirm that the Nigeria and Uganda exits are not isolated cases as the company is also  laying off 3,300 people, or about 10% of its global headcount at the same time.

The company announced the changes in an internal email sent by CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and published online Wednesday.

According to the email, the layoffs are part of a restructuring exercise that would shrink the number of managers by 20%, and some personnel in these roles would work as individual contributors going forward.

Uber’s exit from Nigeria comes 12 years after launching operations in Lagos.

What they are saying

The company said it is focusing its investments on markets where it believes it can create the most value for drivers by providing earning opportunities at scale and enabling riders to travel seamlessly.

• Uber said it remains committed to Sub-Saharan Africa, describing the region as one with “robust growth and long-term opportunity.”
• The company said it is now communicating directly with affected employees, drivers and riders regarding the implications of the decision.
• For employees in Nigeria, the company said it would support them through the transition and communicate directly with them on the arrangements applicable to them.

The company also said it had contacted active drivers to extend “a token of our appreciation” as they transition following the discontinuation of its services.

Uber did not disclose the number of employees, drivers or riders affected by the decision, saying it would continue to communicate with those affected in a responsible manner.

Rider support to continue for 21 days

Uber said rider support would remain available for 21 days after the discontinuation of operations to address outstanding queries and transition-related matters.

• The company also assured riders that their personal data would continue to be handled in line with applicable data protection laws, privacy requirements and its data protection policies.
• According to Uber, it will limit data retention to information legally required, maintain appropriate security controls and continue to fulfil its legal obligations and respond to valid data requests.
• Riders with questions about their personal data or privacy rights can submit requests through Uber’s privacy inquiry channel.

The exit will also affect corporate customers using Uber for Business in Nigeria and Uganda.

Uber said its Uber for Business services in the affected markets would also be discontinued as part of the broader exit.

The company said it is engaging its business partners directly to support them through the transition.

Exit not linked to FAAN airport ban

Uber also clarified that its decision to leave Nigeria was not connected to the recent directive by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) concerning e hailing operations at Nigerian airports.

Asked whether the exit was triggered by the FAAN directive, the company’s spokesperson said its decision was made following a review of its evolving business priorities and investment focus across Africa.

“No,” Uber said in response to the question, adding that the decision was not related to the recent FAAN directive concerning e-hailing operations at Nigerian airports.

Get up to speed

This is not the first time Uber is shutting down its operations in countries. In January this year, Uber shut down operations in Tanzania, marking the end of a long-standing struggle between the global ride-hailing giant and Tanzanian authorities over how the digital mobility market should be governed.

Uber also exited China in 2016 by selling its local operations to rival Didi Chuxing in exchange for a stake in the company.

In Southeast Asia, Uber has withdrew its operations from countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam in 2018 by selling its regional business to Grab.

While Uber’s shutdown in Nigeria is obviously not connected with the recent developments in the country, the exit comes at a time ride-hailing platforms are having a hard time operating at Nigerian airports.

Amid complaints that Uber, Bolt and other operators had been banned from the nation’s airports, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) last week denied it.

However, a few days after the denial, the FAAN issued a statement saying has cleared Bolt to resume e-hailing services at FAAN-managed airports following a temporary interruption that caused inconvenience and increased transportation costs for passengers.

At the time, FAAN said it was still engaging with other e-hailing operators, including Uber,  and expressed confidence that the outstanding discussions would be concluded “in the coming days.”

What you should know

With the exit of Uber, Nigerians are now left with only three major ride-hailing platforms, which include Bolt, Lagos-backed LagRide, and InDrive.

This means limited choices for both drivers and riders who usually compare prices across platforms before choosing which to order from.

While some drivers operate on multiple platforms, drivers operating solely on Uber will now have to join other platforms or quit the business.