Uber's Nigerian exit took effect on September 2, 2026, ending a 12-year presence in the country — and it wasn't alone. Uber ceased ride-hailing operations in Uganda on the very same day, marking a significant retreat from East and West Africa within 24 hours.
Uber entered Nigeria in 2014, launching in Lagos when app-based ride-hailing was still a novel concept. The market subsequently became far more competitive, with Uber facing Bolt and homegrown platforms, while fuel costs, inflation, currency pressure, driver expenses and regulatory requirements made operations increasingly difficult.
Uber told users it had made “the tough decision to wind down our operations in Nigeria, effective 2 September 2026,” after what it called a thorough review of its business. Its Help Centre remains available until September 23 for outstanding account issues. The timing is notable: the Nigeria and Uganda shutdowns came roughly a day before Uber launched autonomous ride operations in London with UK self-driving firm Wayve. Nigeria is also not Uber's first African exit in this cycle — the company left Côte d'Ivoire in 2025 and shut down in Tanzania on January 30, 2026, citing fare controls and commission caps that squeezed margins.
Nigerian ride-hailing drivers have repeatedly clashed with platforms over commission rates and fares — Uber, Bolt, LagRide and inDriver drivers staged a nationwide warning strike as recently as June 2026 demanding a 200% base-fare increase. Uber's departure leaves that pressure entirely on its remaining competitors.