Uber Shutdown in Nigeria and Uganda: Why the Ride-Hailing Giant Is Leaving After 12 Years.

Uber has officially closed its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria and Uganda, bringing a 12-year run in West and East Africa to an abrupt end. The exit took effect on September 2, 2026, when the company confirmed it was winding down both markets simultaneously. For riders in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kampala, the platform that once symbolised the arrival of modern app-based mobility in the region has now disappeared almost overnight, with none of the extended grace period that usually accompanies a corporate exit.

Unlike many corporate withdrawals that unfold over months, Uber's exit from both countries happened with little public warning. The company said the decision followed a review of its business and investment priorities, and that the withdrawal was limited strictly to Nigeria and Uganda, insisting it does not signal a broader pullback from the rest of the continent. Uber has not publicly provided a detailed, market-specific explanation for why these two countries were selected over others, and that silence has left plenty of room for speculation.