# Uber exit from Nigeria

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/uber-exit-from-nigeria
> Updated: 2026-09-11T01:55:32.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 3.

Uber announced it would wind down its Nigerian operations as of September 2, citing a review of business priorities and investment focus. This decision follows a similar exit from Uganda.

The departure has triggered significant debate. Investigative journalist David Hundeyin alleged that Uber’s 12-year presence was linked to intelligence gathering for the United States, suggesting that movement patterns and location histories of millions of Nigerians served US interests. No public documentation has substantiated these claims.

In response to the exit, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) clarified that it was not responsible for Uber’s departure. Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku stated that recent restrictions on e-hailing drivers at airports were intended to address passenger safety and complaints regarding intimidation, rather than to force the company out. Kuku suggested the exit was likely due to Uber’s own economic and regulatory considerations.

Recent developments suggest the exit is part of a broader trend of Uber withdrawing from several African markets, including Ivory Coast and Tanzania. In Nigeria, the company’s departure follows a period of intense economic pressure. Reforms led by President Bola Tinubu, specifically the removal of fuel subsidies and fluctuations in the naira’s exchange rate, have driven up costs for petrol, vehicle maintenance, and spare parts. These rising expenses previously contributed to driver unrest, including a three-day strike in Lagos and Ogun in March by drivers from Uber, Bolt, and inDrive over unsustainable fares and working conditions.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-11: Uber exits Nigerian and Ugandan markets

Uber has exited Nigeria and Uganda following a business review, amid rising operational costs driven by economic reforms and fuel subsidy removals in the region.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uber-exits-nigerian-and-ugandan-markets

### 2026-09-08: Nigeria targets shift from technology consumer to producer

Nigeria aims to transition from a technology consumer to a producer through digital literacy and infrastructure investment, even as ride-hailing giant Uber announces its exit from the country.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigeria-targets-shift-from-technology-consumer-to-producer

### 2026-09-04: Uber exit from Nigeria sparks data sovereignty and intelligence allegations

Uber’s exit from Nigeria has triggered allegations from journalist David Hundeyin regarding intelligence data collection, while Nigerian airport authorities deny involvement in the company's departure.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uber-exit-from-nigeria-sparks-data-sovereignty-and-intelligence-allegations

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Cite as: Uber exit from Nigeria. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/uber-exit-from-nigeria