By Isaac Olufemi Ojo
AFTER a dozen years of operating its digital transportation network in the country, global ride-hailing giant, Uber, has officially brought its operations in Nigeria to an end, causing a major shake-up within the nation’s digital transport sector.
The company’s local transport services officially ceased on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, following a formal notification sent to Nigerian subscribers indicating that the decision was reached after a comprehensive review of its business operations
According to findings, since launching its services in Lagos in 2014, Uber evolved into one of the most visible digital mobility platforms, linking commuters seamlessly with independent vehicle operators through its mobile application.
With the latest development, the multinational firm has completely exited the Nigerian market alongside Uganda, though it maintained that its corporate footprint remains active across other sub-Saharan African countries.
Speaking on the rationale behind the exit, company sources noted that Uber has refrained from directly blaming the nation’s current economic or regulatory climate for the shutdown.
Instead, corporate communications directed at customers framed the withdrawal as a difficult choice necessitated by a strategic re-evaluation of its evolving business priorities and broader investment focus across the African continent.
The firm emphasized that its resources would henceforth be channeled toward markets deemed capable of yielding greater value and sustainable opportunities for both drivers and passengers.
Insiders within the transport sector, however, point out that the exit happens against a heavily constrained operating environment for digital cab services in Nigeria.
In recent times, operators and drivers alike have had to contend with surging fuel pump prices, biting inflation, high vehicle maintenance costs, foreign exchange volatility, and immense pressure on daily take-home earnings.
