Ride-hailing giant Uber will shut down its operations in Nigeria today, Wednesday, September 2, 2026, bringing an end to 12 years in the country.
In a message sent to users, the company said the decision followed “a thorough review of our business” and would take effect immediately.
“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,” Uber stated.
The company entered Nigeria in 2014 with a launch in Lagos before expanding to other major cities. It grew to become one of the country’s leading ride-hailing platforms.
“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,” the statement read. “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 Nigeria exit is part of a wider global shake-up. In a separate memo also released Wednesday, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced about 3,300 job cuts worldwide, roughly 10% of the workforce. The cuts will mainly affect management and coordination roles.
Khosrowshahi said the company was “removing layers, simplifying team structures, refining our global location strategy, and focusing our people and investments against the biggest opportunities ahead.”
He explained that Uber’s rapid growth over the past five years had created extra complexity. “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.”
According to the CEO, the goal of the restructure is twofold: “make Uber simpler and faster, and create more capacity to invest in our future.” Savings from the cuts will be reinvested in growth, innovation, and driver and merchant support.
The latest layoffs follow earlier job cuts this year in Uber’s customer service and human resources departments as the company pushes for greater efficiency.
Uber did not specify what will happen to driver-partners in Nigeria, but said all affected employees have been notified except where local processes apply.
