Uber Makes A Last Ride In Nigeria After 12 Years Of Service

Ride-hailing business Uber has declared that it will cease operations in Nigeria after 12 years; the decision will go into effect on September 2, 2026.

In a statement to users on Wednesday, the company revealed the development, claiming that the action came after a careful analysis of its operations.

“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.

‘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,” the company said.

The company also announced the elimination of roughly 3,300 jobs worldwide as part of a restructuring to streamline its operations in a separate memo released on Wednesday.

The layoffs, which account for roughly 10% of the company’s workforce, will primarily impact management and coordination positions, according to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.

“Today, we’re making a number of significant organisational changes across Uber. We are removing layers, simplifying team structures, refining our global location strategy, and focusing our people and investments against the biggest opportunities ahead of us.

“As a result, we will be reducing the size of our team by about 10%. Everyone whose role has been affected has already been notified, except in countries where we will follow the required local process.

“This wasn’t a decision we made lightly, because it will have a real impact on our teammates and friends who have worked hard for Uber. It’s important to say that these changes are about how we’re organised and what we’re prioritising, not about anyone’s contributions to Uber, which we will always value,” Khosrowshahi said.

“I’m sure you’re asking, ‘Why, and why now?’ particularly since our business is performing so well. Over the last 5+ years, Uber has grown by orders of magnitude, with our top line nearly tripling. We’ve built new products, expanded into new businesses, reached more consumers and supported more earners, and become a much larger and stronger company. But that growth has also brought complexity: more layers, more coordination, more fragmented ownership, and in some cases structures that made sense when businesses were smaller but no longer serve us well at our current scale.

“Our opportunity from here is enormous: we have the chance to bring Uber to hundreds of millions more people; to invest even more in drivers, couriers and merchants; and to innovate across our core businesses and build the autonomous future.

“The changes we’re making today are designed to do two things: make Uber simpler and faster, and create more capacity to invest in our future. A leaner organization will mean clearer ownership, faster decisions, and more time spent building rather than coordinating. It will also generate savings that we intend to reinvest in growth, innovation, and the capabilities that will matter most over the coming years.

“It’s our job as leaders to make these difficult calls, and to give you transparency into our thinking and our decision-making process.”

We will surely miss Uber in Nigeria. Over the past 12 years, they have truly been helpful, providing reliable transportation and making life easier for many. Their departure marks the end of an era, and their absence will be deeply felt by all who benefited from their services.