Uber exits Nigeria and Uganda as ride-hailing economics tighten
The departures follow earlier withdrawals from Ivory Coast and Tanzania, but Uber says it remains committed to sub-Saharan Africa.
Uber ended its ride-hailing services in Nigeria and Uganda on 2 September after a review of its business priorities, closing operations that had run for 12 years in Nigeria and about a decade in Uganda.
The exits come as rising fuel, vehicle-maintenance, insurance and other operating costs put pressure on the balance between affordable fares, driver earnings and platform commissions. Uber has not said the two operations were unprofitable or provided detailed country-by-country reasons for the decision.
In Nigeria, drivers working for Uber, Bolt and inDrive staged a three-day strike in March over fares and working conditions. The market has also become more competitive, with drivers able to move between platforms including Bolt, inDrive and local services.
Uganda presents a similar structural challenge. The Smart Online Drivers Association challenged platform commissions in 2019, while Bolt, SafeBoda, Yango and other services competed for riders and drivers. Uber entered Uganda in 2016 and later launched UberBODA.
The departures follow Uber’s exit from Ivory Coast last year and Tanzania in January 2026. Kenya offers a different precedent: after a 2022 commission cap, Uber reduced its commission from 25 per cent to 18 per cent rather than leave.
Uber says it remains committed to sub-Saharan Africa and is focusing investment on markets where it can support driver earning opportunities at scale and provide reliable journeys for riders. The withdrawals therefore point to a more selective regional strategy, rather than a departure from Africa as a whole.
