Uber has shut down its ride-hailing services in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect following an internal business review. The company first launched its operations in Nigeria in 2014 before expanding into Uganda in 2016.
Drivers in Nigeria have struggled with mounting operational expenses and rising fuel prices, which sparked protests over platform commission rates and low fares in recent years. Rivalry from competing platforms like Bolt, inDrive, and domestic services has also squeezed Uber’s market presence. The financial pressure intensified following Nigeria’s removal of its fuel subsidy in 2023, which triggered a sharp spike in living and transportation costs. Prior to its departure, Uber had attempted to diversify its Nigerian offerings by launching a water transport service in Lagos in 2019 to bypass urban traffic.
In Uganda, alternative providers such as Bolt, SafeBoda, and Faras are poised to absorb Uber’s former user base.
These market departures follow Uber’s recent withdrawals from Tanzania and Ivory Coast over the past year. The move reduces Uber’s active footprint on the African continent to just four nations: Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt.
Uber confirmed it will provide assistance to impacted staff and drivers, keeping its support desk operational in both Nigeria and Uganda until September 23. The company clarified that the regional exit does not impact its broader operational strategy across Africa, where it continues to see viable opportunities in the sub-Saharan region.
