Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies has announced plans to discontinue its operations in Nigeria after 12 years of providing transportation services in the country.
The company said its Nigerian operations would officially cease on September 2, 2026, following a review of its business priorities and investment strategy across Africa.
Uber disclosed this in a message sent to customers on Wednesday, announcing its decision to wind down operations in Nigeria and Uganda.
“After a thorough review of our business, we have made the tough decision to wind down our operations in Nigeria, effective 2 September 2026,” the company said.
In another statement, Uber said the decision was based on its “evolving business priorities and investment focus across Africa.”
The company, however, did not provide further details on the specific reasons for its withdrawal from the Nigerian market.
Uber entered Nigeria in 2014 with its launch in Lagos, then expanded its services to other cities across the country as demand for app-based transportation increased.
Over the years, the company expanded beyond conventional car-hailing services. In Lagos, Uber launched its boat service in 2019 as part of efforts to provide alternative transportation and help ease traffic congestion in the city.
The development comes amid increasing competition in Nigeria’s ride-hailing industry, with operators facing rising fuel prices, inflation, foreign-exchange volatility, and higher operating costs.
These challenges have also put pressure on drivers and ride-hailing platforms, affecting the cost and profitability of operations.
Uber said its help centre would remain available after the shutdown to assist customers with account-related issues and other matters arising from the closure.
The company said it remained committed to its operations in sub-Saharan Africa, despite its decision to exit Nigeria and Uganda.
“We remain committed to Sub-Saharan Africa, where we continue to see strong growth and opportunity,” Uber said.
The company added that it would focus its investments on markets where it believes it can “add the most value for drivers by providing earning opportunities at scale and enabling riders to go anywhere seamlessly.”
Uber has not disclosed the number of drivers, riders or other stakeholders that would be directly affected by its exit from Nigeria.
It also did not state whether its assets or other business interests in the country would be sold or transferred.
The exit marks the end of Uber’s 12-year presence in Nigeria, where the company became one of the major players in the country’s growing app-based transportation sector.