Uber quits Nigeria and Uganda as Africa footprint shrinks

Uber has pulled out of Nigeria and Uganda, ending its 12-year presence in Nigeria and leaving the ride-hailing giant with just four African markets.

The company stopped operations in both countries on September 2, 2026, after what it described as a review of its business and investment priorities.

The abrupt exit is a major change for commuters and thousands of drivers who have depended on the platform since Uber arrived in Lagos in 2014.

Uber entered Uganda two years later, in 2016.

The company has not given a detailed explanation for why it chose to leave the two markets. It said the decision was limited to Nigeria and Uganda and did not affect its wider operations in sub-Saharan Africa.

“After a thorough review of our business, we have taken the difficult decision to wind down operations in Nigeria and Uganda,” Uber said in a statement.

The company said its priority was to support riders, drivers and local employees during the transition.

Nigeria became increasingly difficult for ride-hailing firms

Uber's departure comes after a difficult period for Nigeria's app-based transport industry.

Drivers have repeatedly complained that fares have failed to keep pace with the rising cost of running vehicles.

Fuel, vehicle maintenance, inflation and platform commissions have all put pressure on earnings.

In March, hundreds of ride-hailing drivers in Lagos staged protests involving Uber, Bolt and inDrive. They demanded higher fares and lower commissions, arguing that the economics of driving had become increasingly difficult.

The drivers also called for government intervention.

Some said commissions could reach as high as 30 per cent, while fuel costs had risen sharply.

The pressure has continued even as competition in Nigeria's ride-hailing market has grown.

Uber has faced established rivals such as Bolt and inDrive, alongside Nigerian operators.

Uber said in March that it remained committed to engaging with drivers after the protests.

“Drivers are at the heart of our business, and we remain committed to engaging constructively with them,” the company said at the time.

But the latest decision suggests the challenges in at least two African markets have become harder to justify commercially.

A global shake-up is happening at the same time

The African exits come as Uber carries out a much larger restructuring.

Chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi announced that the company would cut about 10 per cent of its global workforce, or roughly 3,300 jobs.

Khosrowshahi said Uber had grown rapidly and accumulated too many layers and small teams, slowing decisions and making the organisation more complicated.

The company says the restructuring is intended to simplify its operations and give it greater room to invest in its future priorities.

That does not mean Uber has announced a retreat from Africa as a whole.

Instead, the company says it is concentrating investment on markets where it believes it can create opportunities for drivers and serve riders at scale.

What happens to Uber in Africa?

The latest exits leave Uber operating in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.

That marks a significant contraction from the company's earlier African footprint.

Uber exited Ivory Coast in 2025 and ended operations in Tanzania in February 2026.

Nigeria was once one of its most important African markets.

The company launched in Lagos in 2014 before expanding to other Nigerian cities.

It also experimented with services beyond conventional car rides.

In Lagos, Uber launched a boat service in 2019, seeking to give commuters another way around the city's notorious traffic.

Lagos is one of the world's largest urban areas, and its road congestion has long been a major challenge for workers, businesses and commuters.

Uganda faces a different transport landscape

For Uganda, the departure is likely to be felt most sharply in Kampala, where app-based transport has become part of everyday urban mobility.

But Uber's exit does not leave commuters without alternatives.

Platforms including Bolt, SafeBoda and other local operators are already present in the market.

The change could therefore shift competition rather than bring app-based transport to an end.

For drivers, however, the question is more immediate: where will the income lost from Uber go?

Uber has not disclosed how many drivers or riders are affected by the closures.

It has also not announced whether affected drivers will receive financial compensation.

The company says it will provide support and continue handling outstanding issues during the wind-down.

Support remains available until September 23

Uber said its help centre will remain available in Nigeria and Uganda until September 23 for users dealing with unresolved matters.

The company also said information held for users in the two countries would be handled under applicable data protection requirements.

For riders, the practical impact is straightforward: trips can no longer be booked through Uber in either country.

For drivers, the exit is more significant.

Many will have to decide whether to move to competing platforms, operate independently or leave app-based transport altogether.

Nigeria's experience also offers a wider lesson for the ride-hailing industry.

A large population and busy cities do not automatically make a market easy to serve.

Platforms still have to balance affordable fares for passengers with earnings that drivers consider worthwhile, while absorbing fuel, maintenance, regulatory and other operating costs.

Uber's withdrawal shows just how difficult that balance can become.

The company insists it remains committed to sub-Saharan Africa.

But after exits from four African markets in roughly two years, the map tells a more selective story.

Uber is not leaving Africa.

It is choosing much more carefully where it wants to stay.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.