LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Ride-hailing company Uber has announced it will shut down its operations in Nigeria after 12 years, with the decision taking effect on September 2, 2026.
The company disclosed the development in a statement to users on Wednesday, saying the move followed a thorough review of its business.
“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.
“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 apologise for the inconvenience,” the company said.
Uber launched its Nigerian operations in Lagos in 2014 and later expanded to other major cities, becoming one of the country’s leading ride-hailing platforms.
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In a separate memo issued on Wednesday, the company also announced the elimination of about 3,300 jobs globally as part of a restructuring to streamline its operations.
Uber Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi said the layoffs, which represent about 10 per cent of the company’s workforce, would mainly affect management and coordination roles.
“Today, we’re making a number of significant organisational 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.
“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. It’s important to say that these changes are about how we’re organised and what we’re prioritising, not about anyone’s contributions to Uber, which we will always value,” Khosrowshahi said.
Explaining the rationale behind the restructuring, he said Uber’s rapid expansion over the past five years had created additional layers of management and operational complexity.
“I’m sure you’re asking, ‘Why, and why now?’ particularly since our business is performing so well. Over the last 5+ years, Uber has grown by orders of magnitude, with our top line nearly tripling. We’ve built new products, expanded into new businesses, reached more consumers and supported more earners, and become a much larger and stronger company. But that growth has also brought complexity: more layers, more coordination, more fragmented ownership, and in some cases structures that made sense when businesses were smaller but no longer serve us well at our current scale.
“Our opportunity from here is enormous: we have the chance to bring Uber to hundreds of millions more people; to invest even more in drivers, couriers and merchants; and to innovate across our core businesses and build the autonomous future.
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“The changes we’re making today are designed to do two things: make Uber simpler and faster, and create more capacity to invest in our future. A leaner organization will mean clearer ownership, faster decisions, and more time spent building rather than coordinating. It will also generate savings that we intend to reinvest in growth, innovation, and the capabilities that will matter most over the coming years.
“It’s our job as leaders to make these difficult calls, and to give you transparency into our thinking and our decision-making process.”
The latest layoffs follow earlier job cuts this year, when Uber reduced roles in its customer service and human resources departments as part of efforts to improve efficiency and focus on long-term growth.