Global ride-hailing company Uber has announced plans to wind down its operations in Nigeria effective Tuesday, September 2, 2026, following a thorough review of its business.
DailyVista247 gathered that the company disclosed the decision in a message sent to customers and drivers on Wednesday, describing it as a tough decision taken after evaluating its operations.
"We are writing to share some difficult news. After a thorough review of our business, we have made the tough decision to wind down our operations in Nigeria, effective 2 September 2026," Uber said in the statement.
The company, which launched its service in Lagos in 2014, said it has been privileged to connect Nigerians with independent transportation providers over the past 12 years.
Uber apologized for the disruption the exit may cause customers and thanked Nigerians for using its platform throughout its stay in the country.
The company also announced that its Help Center will remain available until September 23 to assist customers with final account-related queries.
Uber said the decision followed a thorough review and was limited to Nigeria and Uganda, with no impact on its operations elsewhere in Africa.
Drivers were informed on Wednesday that they would no longer receive rider trip requests through the Uber app from the effective date.
The announcement marks the end of 12 years of operation for a company that helped transform urban transportation and popularize app-based ride-hailing in Africa's largest economy.
When Uber launched in Lagos in 2014, ordering a taxi through a mobile application was still relatively new. The company introduced a technology-driven model that allowed passengers to request rides, track drivers and make digital payments.
Its arrival helped create new consumer behaviour and opened the door for competitors including Bolt, inDrive and other local ride-hailing platforms.
Over the years, Nigeria's ride-hailing industry has faced competing interests, with passengers seeking affordable fares, drivers demanding higher earnings and platforms working to build sustainable businesses.
Industry observers note that balancing these interests has become difficult due to rising fuel prices, expensive vehicle maintenance, higher costs for spare parts and inflation.
For Uber drivers, the immediate impact will be the loss of one major platform. However, many drivers operate across multiple ride-hailing applications and may migrate to competitors.
For passengers, Uber's departure means one less choice in the market, with competitors likely to attempt to attract Uber's riders.
Uber's exit comes as the company announced plans to cut about 10 percent of its global workforce as part of a broader review to reallocate resources towards growth opportunities.
