Global ride-hailing company Uber has announced its exit from the Nigerian market after 12 years of operations, with its services in the country ending on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
The company, which launched its service in Lagos in 2014, communicated the decision to customers in a statement sent to their email addresses.
Uber said the decision followed a review of its business operations in Nigeria.
“We are writing to share some difficult news. 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 service provider said in the statement.
The company expressed appreciation to Nigerians who used its platform since its launch, recalling how the service became part of the daily routines of many customers.
“Since we first launched in Lagos in 2014, it has been an absolute privilege to be a part of your daily life, connecting you with independent transportation providers.
“Whether it was a morning commute, a ride to see loved ones, or exploring the city, thank you for trusting the platform to connect you to a driver to get you there safely. We know this may cause disruption to your routine, and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience.”
Uber, however, said its help centre would remain available until September 23, 2026, to assist customers with any outstanding account-related enquiries.
Uber’s departure from Nigeria comes amid a broader restructuring by the company, including plans to reduce its global workforce by about 10 per cent as part of what it described as “significant organisational changes”.
“Today, we’re making a number of significant organisational changes across Uber,” CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a message to employees released on Wednesday. “As a result, we will be reducing the size of our team by about 10 percent.”
Uber has approximately 34,000 employees and operates across more than 70 countries, according to a recent filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The company said the workforce reduction is intended to make its platform “simpler and faster” while reducing delays caused by coordination across its expanding operations.
“A leaner organisation will mean clearer ownership, faster decisions, and more time spent building rather than coordinating,” the message said.
Founded in 2009, Uber transformed urban transportation by challenging traditional taxi and private-car businesses and creating a platform that allows individuals to use their vehicles to provide rides to customers.
The company currently operates across more than 70 countries, over 15,000 cities and more than 700 airports globally.
Uber’s exit from Nigeria represents a significant development in the country’s ride-hailing sector and is expected to alter the competitive landscape among transportation platforms.
