Uber has pulled the plug on its Nigerian operations after more than a decade in the country, marking one of the most significant retreats by a major tech platform from Africa’s largest economy. The shutdown, effective September 2, ends a presence that began when Uber first rolled into Lagos back in 2014.
The company is also leaving Uganda as part of the same move. Together, the exits coincide with a global restructuring effort that will eliminate approximately 3,300 positions, roughly 10% of Uber’s worldwide workforce.
What drove Uber out
When Uber arrived, it was one of the first major international ride-hailing platforms to set up shop, even tweaking its payment model to account for a population that overwhelmingly preferred cash over card transactions.
Bolt launched in Nigeria in 2016 and immediately started undercutting Uber on price. What followed was a grinding price war that squeezed margins for both companies but hit Uber particularly hard.
Beyond competition, Uber faced soaring inflation, volatile currency swings, and fuel price hikes that made every trip more expensive to facilitate. Nigerian drivers staged protests over the years, pushing back against fare structures and commission rates they viewed as unsustainable. Regulatory headaches, including disputes with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, added another layer of friction.
The company didn’t release specific financial figures for its Nigerian business.
The global picture
This is part of CEO Dara Khosrowshahi’s broader strategy to trim operations that don’t contribute meaningfully to the bottom line and redirect capital toward higher-priority bets, chief among them autonomous vehicles.
The roughly 3,300 job cuts represent about 10% of Uber’s global headcount.
Uber has clarified that its operations in other Sub-Saharan African nations will continue. The exit is specifically limited to Nigeria and Uganda.
What happens next in Nigeria
Uber’s help center will remain open until September 23 to handle final account inquiries. The company has also indicated it will offer one-time goodwill payments to drivers affected by the shutdown, though it hasn’t specified the amounts.