The message appeared quietly on the Uber app, but its impact was anything but quiet.

For many Nigerians who opened the Uber app yesterday morning expecting to book a ride, the message was startling: “No ride available.”

Then came the bigger shock.

After 12 years of operating in Nigeria, Uber announced that it would be shutting down its operations in the country, as well as Uganda, effective September 2, 2026.

The announcement immediately triggered questions among riders, drivers and industry watchers: Why would one of the world’s biggest ride-hailing companies suddenly leave a market it had operated in for more than a decade?

Uber, however, says the decision was part of a broader review of its business priorities and investment strategy across Africa.

Why Uber Is Leaving

Head of Communications, Uber East and West Africa, Ms Lorraine Onduru, said in a statement in Lagos that the company’s decision was based on its evolving business priorities and investment focus.

She stressed that the decision had nothing to do with the recent directive by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) concerning e-hailing operations at Nigerian airports.

According to her, the decision was limited to Nigeria and Uganda and would not affect Uber’s operations in other African countries.

“Uber remains deeply committed to Sub-Saharan Africa, where we continue to see robust growth and long-term opportunity,” Onduru said.

She added that the company’s immediate priority was to support affected drivers, riders and employees during the transition.

Uber said it had begun communicating directly with affected employees, drivers and riders about arrangements following the discontinuation of its Nigerian operations.

Active drivers, the company said, would receive a token of appreciation as they transition away from the platform.

Rider support would also remain available for 21 days after operations ceased to address outstanding and transition-related issues.

Uber for Business services in Nigeria will equally be discontinued, with affected partners being contacted.

On data protection, Onduru assured users that their information would continue to be handled in accordance with applicable data protection laws, privacy requirements and Uber’s data protection policies.

But Then Came the Drivers’ Different Stories

While Uber has presented its exit as a business decision, opinions among Nigerian drivers are sharply divided over what may have pushed the company out.

A FAAN cab driver, Eyo Christian, described the development as a welcome one, arguing that Uber and Bolt should even be banned from Nigeria.

Christian, who spoke on national television, said the commission deducted by ride-hailing companies made the business increasingly difficult for drivers.

“I used to work for Uber, Bolt and inDrive. When they take their commissions, what is left for drivers is paltry,” he said.

He claimed that many drivers had repeatedly asked the companies to reduce their commissions but received little response.

Christian also criticised the condition of some vehicles used by ride-hailing operators.

But not every driver agreed with him.

‘Uber Was the Best’

Two other Uber drivers interviewed by The Nation offered a completely different account.

Hakeem Adebajo, who worked with Uber for two years, described its service as the best among the major ride-hailing platforms.

According to him, Uber provided stronger security for both drivers and passengers through proper monitoring.

He also argued that drivers could make better profits on Uber than on Bolt and inDrive.

Another driver, Olanrewaju Shittu, who had spent three years with Uber, said the company paid many drivers more than its competitors.

Shittu further claimed that Uber gave drivers a ₦70,000 weekly allowance, something he said other ride-hailing companies did not provide.

But he believes two major issues may have contributed to Uber’s departure: dishonesty among some drivers and intense competition.

The ‘Offline’ Problem

Shittu alleged that some drivers deliberately encouraged passengers to cancel Uber bookings and pay them directly.

“Drivers keep short-changing Uber by telling clients to cancel their bookings and pay offline,” he said.

He also pointed to competition from inDrive, saying its pricing structure gave passengers more control and attracted some customers away from Uber.

According to Shittu, the loss of Uber could ultimately hurt drivers because they may struggle to generate enough income to maintain their vehicles.

He put the commissions at approximately 33 per cent for Uber, 25 per cent for Bolt and 13 per cent for inDrive.

Then Trevor Noah’s Old Allegation Resurfaced

Amid the debate, comments attributed to South African comedian and  political commentator Trevor Noah have also resurfaced.

Noah previously discussed how Uber expanded into different markets by offering incentives to drivers, including bonuses for completing airport trips.

The account alleged that some Nigerian drivers discovered a way to exploit the incentive system by signing up for Uber bookings, creating bookings themselves, travelling to the airport without picking up passengers and still collecting the bonuses.

The alleged abuse, according to the account, eventually forced Uber to cancel the incentive programme across markets where it operated.

‘This Market Punishes Platforms That Assume Trust’

Another reaction came from Akin Olaoye, who said he was not surprised by Uber’s decision.

Writing on X, Olaoye argued that the problem went beyond government policy or economic conditions.

He claimed that some drivers would take passengers offline after Uber had done the work of connecting them, allowing the drivers to keep the entire fare.

“This market punishes platforms that assume trust,” he wrote.

Olaoye argued that Bolt, inDrive and other operators could eventually face the same problem because they would inherit the same market conditions.

He also criticised Uber for failing to give riders stronger incentives to remain loyal to the platform, suggesting rewards for customers who completed multiple trips or rejected attempts to take transactions offline.

Is It Really About Culture — Or Incentives?

An X user identified as Enigma offered another perspective.

According to the user, the deeper issue was not simply culture but incentives.

The argument was straightforward: if going offline is more profitable for both the driver and passenger than remaining on the platform, some users will naturally bypass the system.

The user said Uber needed to make honest behaviour more rewarding while making it harder and less attractive to circumvent the platform.

What Happens Next?

Uber’s departure leaves a major gap in Nigeria’s ride-hailing market and creates an immediate opportunity for competitors such as Bolt, inDrive and other operators.

But beneath the shock of Uber’s exit lies a bigger question:

Was Nigeria simply no longer attractive enough for Uber—or did the company lose the battle to control the way its platform was being used?

For thousands of Nigerian drivers who depended on the platform, the answer may determine what comes next.

And for millions of riders who became accustomed to tapping a button and watching a car arrive, the disappearance of Uber marks the end of a 12-year chapter—and perhaps the beginning of a very different era in Nigeria’s ride-hailing industry.