"They Won't Be Missed": Nigerians Unbothered by Uber's Exit After 12 Years

• Uber announced its withdrawal from Nigeria and Uganda as part of a sweeping global restructuring plan
• The ride-hailing giant said it would cut around 3,300 jobs and shift investment focus towards autonomous vehicles and robotaxis
• Nigerians online said they would not miss Uber, with many already preferring rival platforms Bolt and InDrive

Uber is pulling out of Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect. They will close more than a decade of operations in both countries as the company undergoes a major global restructuring.

The American ride-hailing company confirmed the move on 2 September 2026, saying the decision was part of a broader plan to streamline its corporate structure and redirect resources towards higher-growth opportunities, particularly autonomous vehicles and robotaxis. The restructuring will also cut roughly 3,300 jobs worldwide, flatten management layers, and reduce fully remote roles to approximately 1% of its total workforce.

According to CNB Africa, Uber first launched in Nigeria in 2014, giving it a 12-year run in one of Africa's most populous markets before the exit. Despite the withdrawals, Uber said it remains committed to Sub-Saharan Africa as a region, though it did not specify which markets it intends to prioritise going forward.

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Uber's departure leaves room for competitors already well-established in Nigeria. Platforms like Bolt and InDrive have grown their footprints significantly in recent years, and many Nigerian commuters and small business owners say they had already shifted their loyalty long before this announcement.

The news quickly gained traction online, with Nigerians largely unbothered by Uber's exit and pointing to local and regional alternatives as more than capable of filling the void. See the Business Insider SA post that sparked the conversation below:

Nigerians discuss Uber's exit

Commenters on the Business Insider SA Facebook post were vocal about how they felt:

Master Justice Gbarako Bari-suka said:

"But there are local Bolt companies. They just need to be bracing up."

Milklyy Nigeria wrote:

"Uber won't be missed. We prefer Bolt and InDrive in Nigeria. Personally, I use InDrive for my business deliveries."

Ockay Excel noted:

"The reason they're moving is that many people are not dumb. Some guys who drive Uber or e-hailing cabs know they can create their own way of taking passengers without having to pay an app."

Olufowote Olusoga added:

"An opportunity for the development and introduction of an indigenous, efficient and effective transportation system without exploitation and hidden conditions in Nigeria."

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Efe Mena Anudja concluded:

"The competition is too much for them in Nigeria. Most people prefer Bolt."

Other Briefly News stories about Nigeria

• A South African content creator documented his daily life in Nigeria amidst a backdrop of rising tensions due to impending protests against undocumented immigrants.
• Details about a young South African woman who recently moved to Nigeria and her initial experiences amassed lively online reactions.
• Nigerian President Bola Tinubu decided to address the escalating concerns of xenophobia and Afrophobia in South Africa before the African Union.

Source: Briefly News