Uber: “Why We Pulled Out Of Nigeria”

By Adesina Soyooye

Uber, the very popular global ride-hailing company has given reasons why it is pulling out of Nigeria.

Nigerians woke up on Wednesday to the disheartening news that Uber has decided to pull out of Nigeria, effective, September 2, 2026, same day they read the news.

Before this development which has saddened thousands of Nigerians, especially, youths employed  under the company, it has operated in Nigeria for 12 years.

Uber, which made the announcement on Wednesday, said in a statement:

“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 business effective 2 September 2026.

“Since we first launched in Lagos in 2024, it has been an absolute privilege to be a part of your daily  life connecting you with independent transportation providers.

“Whether it was a morning commute, a ride to see loved ones, or exploring the city, thank you for trusting the platform to connect you to a driver to get you there safely.

“We know this may cause disruption to your routine, and we sincerely apologise for tye inconvenience.”

While thanking Lagosians for welcoming the company into its city, Uber said its help centre will be open to assist customers with any final account  queries till September 23, 2026.

For the records, another African country, Uganda, is in the same pot with Nigeria as Uber also pulled out of the country.

What is not known is why Uber pulled out so suddenly – effective the day it made its decision public.