Uber Shuts Down Operations in Nigeria After 12 Years

Ride-hailing company, Uber, has announced the shutdown of its operations in Nigeria, ending a 12-year presence in the country.

The company said its exit from Nigeria takes effect on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

In a statement to users, Uber described the decision as difficult, saying it followed a thorough review of its business 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,” the company said.

Uber launched its operations in Lagos in 2014 and subsequently became one of the major ride-hailing platforms serving commuters in Nigeria.

Reflecting on its time in the country, the company thanked users for trusting its platform to connect them with independent transportation providers.

“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,” it said.

The company also apologised to customers for the disruption that could result from the shutdown.

The announcement came as Uber disclosed a major global organisational restructuring that will see the company reduce its workforce by about 10 per cent, representing roughly 3,300 positions.

In a memo to employees on Wednesday, Uber Chief Executive Officer, Dara Khosrowshahi, said the restructuring was aimed at simplifying the company’s organisational structure and allowing it to focus investments on areas with greater growth potential.

“Today, we’re making a number of significant organizational 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,” Khosrowshahi said.

He said employees whose positions were affected had been notified, except in countries where local procedures were required.

Khosrowshahi explained that the workforce reduction was not a reflection of employees’ individual contributions but was driven by changes in the company’s organisational structure and priorities.

According to him, Uber had experienced significant growth over the past five years, with its revenue nearly tripling as it expanded its products, businesses and global customer base.

However, he said the growth had also created additional layers of management, coordination and fragmented responsibilities that the company now intends to streamline.

“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,” he said.

Khosrowshahi said the restructuring was expected to generate savings that would be reinvested in growth, innovation and other strategic priorities.

“A leaner organization will mean clearer ownership, faster decisions, and more time spent building rather than coordinating,” he added.

The latest workforce reduction is not Uber’s first round of job cuts this year, as the company had previously eliminated positions in areas including customer service and human resources.

Uber’s exit marks the end of its 12-year operation in Nigeria, where the platform became a prominent part of the country’s rapidly expanding ride-hailing industry.