Uber has notified users that it will cease operations in Nigeria and Uganda starting September 2, 2026, following a business review. The Nigeria operation began in Lagos in 2014 and has lasted approximately twelve years.

The company stated that this decision is limited to these two countries and does not affect its other markets in Africa; it continues to operate in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. Over the past year, it has exited Côte d'Ivoire and Tanzania. The customer service center is set to remain open until September 23 to handle outstanding matters, while corporate rides will also cease. The number of affected drivers and passengers has not been disclosed, nor has there been any mention of asset sales. A spokesperson denied that the exit is directly related to restrictions from the Nigerian airport authority on ride-hailing services, stating it is due to a shift in investment focus. On the same day, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced a global layoff of about 10%, affecting approximately 3,300 management and coordination positions. Local alternatives include Bolt, Faras, SafeBoda, among others. Complaints about the inability to use the app during ongoing trips have surfaced on social media, with the official statement indicating an immediate cessation of operations, without specific mention of how ongoing orders will be handled.

The immediate cessation of operations effectively shuts down twelve years of network presence. The layoffs and exit occurred on the same day, as part of a global contraction. Market predictions have marked the "closure of Nigeria" as an event contract, which does not equate to the completion of delivery details.

Driver income and passenger commutes will shift to local applications. Without disclosure of exchange rates, regulations, and unit economics, the outside world can only see the exit on the map.

In market mechanics, the buyers are local and regional ride-hailing services filling the void, while the seller is the shrinking Uber. The driving force is the announcement of immediate cessation, categorized as an exit event. Funds are flowing from the two countries' market expenses to the retained countries' capacities. Beneficiaries include alternative platforms like Bolt, while those under pressure are drivers and corporate accounts reliant on Uber's commission, as well as those who have written global travel growth into a linear valuation model.

Source: Public Information