Uber downed its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria and Uganda effective September 2, ending a 12-year presence in Africa’s largest consumer market, as the company separately announced plans to cut roughly 3,300 jobs globally.
In a statement to customers, Uber said it had made “the tough decision” to exit both markets after a review of its business priorities and investment focus across Africa. The company said the move was limited to Nigeria and Uganda and would not affect its operations elsewhere on the continent, adding that it remained committed to Sub-Saharan Africa, where it continues to see growth potential. Customer support in Nigeria will remain available until September 23 to resolve outstanding account issues.
Uber launched in Lagos in 2014, introducing app-based ride-hailing to Nigeria, and at its peak had more than 5,000 driver-partners in the country. Its dominance eroded over the past decade as competitors including Bolt, which entered in 2016, and inDrive undercut it on price and flexibility, pushing Uber to introduce a lower-cost tier using smaller, financed vehicles. Nigeria’s prolonged economic difficulties, including currency depreciation and rising costs for drivers, further squeezed the business.
The Nigeria and Uganda exits were announced the same day chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi told employees the company would cut about 3,300 roles, roughly 10 percent of its workforce, in its largest round of layoffs since 2020. In a memo to staff, Khosrowshahi said Uber’s revenue had nearly tripled over the past five years but that growth had added layers of management and slowed decision-making. He said the restructuring was intended to make the company “simpler and faster” and free up resources to invest in delivery, driver and merchant tools, and autonomous vehicle technology.
Uber has not formally linked the African market exits to the layoffs, but the announcements landing within hours of each other point to a broader shift in strategy: away from lower-margin markets and toward investment in robotaxis and other higher-growth segments.
