Ride-hailing giant Uber has shut down its services in Nigeria, effective immediately, the company announced on Wednesday.
In a statement, Uber said the decision followed a thorough review of its business and took effect from September 2, 2026. The firm first entered the Nigerian market in Lagos in 2014.
“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.
“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 apologize for the inconvenience.”
Separately, Uber announced it would cut roughly 3,300 jobs worldwide, representing about 10 percent of its workforce. The reductions primarily affect management and coordination roles.
Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi said the changes aimed to simplify the company’s structure and free up resources for future growth.
“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,” he said in a memo.
“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.”
Khosrowshahi added that the moves were designed to make Uber “simpler and faster” and to create capacity for investment in growth, innovation and autonomous technology.
