Global ride-hailing platform Uber has ended its 12-year journey in Nigeria, withdrawing its services after reviewing its business operations and investment priorities.
The company’s Nigerian operations officially ended on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, marking the departure of one of the major platforms that helped popularise app-based ride-hailing in the country.
Uber entered the Nigerian market in 2014, beginning operations in Lagos before extending its services to other major cities.
In a message announcing the decision, the company said the move followed “a thorough review of our business” and described the decision to leave Nigeria as a difficult one.
Uber expressed appreciation to Nigerians who had used its platform over the years, particularly riders who relied on the service for daily transportation, visits to family and friends, business trips and other journeys.
The company also acknowledged that its withdrawal could affect the routines of customers who had become accustomed to booking rides through the Uber app.
“We recognise that this change may disrupt your routines, and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause,” the company said.
With the shutdown taking effect, riders in Nigeria can no longer use the Uber platform to request trips, while drivers are no longer receiving ride requests through the service.
However, Uber said its Help Centre would remain available until September 23, 2026, to handle customers’ outstanding account-related enquiries and provide assistance during the transition.
The company did not give a detailed explanation for its decision to leave Nigeria, beyond citing its review of the business and changing investment priorities.
Uber’s exit does not represent a withdrawal from the African market as a whole. The company continues to operate in other African countries, meaning Nigeria’s departure is specific to its local operations.
The development nevertheless represents a major shift in Nigeria’s ride-hailing industry, where Uber has competed for years with other digital transportation platforms while also contending with changing economic conditions and rising operating costs.
For Nigerian users, Uber’s departure closes a chapter that began in Lagos in 2014, when ordering a private ride with a smartphone was still a relatively new concept for many Nigerians.
Over the past 12 years, the platform became part of the daily transportation routine of many urban residents, while also creating an income avenue for drivers who used their vehicles to provide services through the app.
Its exit is now expected to intensify competition among the ride-hailing companies remaining in the Nigerian market as they position themselves to attract Uber’s former riders and drivers.
For many customers who have relied on the familiar Uber interface and service for years, however, the change is more immediate: from September 2, the Uber option is no longer available for rides in Nigeria.
