Last updated : September 2026
Nigeria’s consumer protection agency is investigating Uber. This happened after the ride-hailing company suddenly stopped working in the country on September 2, 2026.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) wants to know if Uber left customers with paid but unfinished rides.
This investigation marks the end of Uber’s 12 years in Nigeria. It also shows the struggles big tech companies face with local economies.
Why is the Government Investigating?
Sudden App Shutdown
The FCCPC is looking closely at how fast Uber left. Uber turned off its app in Nigeria and Uganda without warning its riders or drivers.
People on social media said the app stopped working while they were in the middle of a ride.
Unfinished Rides and Refunds
Tunji Bello is the head of the FCCPC. He told Bloomberg in a text message about the investigation.
Bello said his team is checking if customers paid for rides they never got.
The agency wants to know if customers can still complain and get help.
Uber said its Help Centre would stay open for questions until September 23 or 24. However, drivers could not get new rides after September 2.
Different Rules for Different Countries
In Europe, the law says companies must give drivers 30 days of warning before shutting down.
These rules do not apply in Nigeria. So, the FCCPC is using local consumer laws to hold Uber responsible.
Depending on what they find, the agency might force Uber to pay refunds or face fines.
Why Did Uber Leave Nigeria?
Massive Job Cuts
Uber said it left to focus on different business goals. The company told drivers it made a hard choice to close down.
Leaving Nigeria and Uganda is part of a huge global change led by Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.
Khosrowshahi told his staff that Uber is cutting about 3,300 jobs worldwide. This is 10 percent of all Uber workers.
The goal is to make the company smaller and faster.
A Push for Self-Driving Cars
Experts think these job cuts will save Uber about $1.75 billion. Uber wants to use this money for new projects.
The company is putting a lot of money into self-driving cars. It hopes to have driverless robotaxis in 15 cities by the end of 2026.
Because of this, Uber is leaving many African countries. It recently left Tanzania and Ivory Coast. Now, Uber only works in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa.
Problems With Airport Rules and Fares
Driver Strikes
Uber also had many local problems in Nigeria. For years, the company fought with its drivers.
Drivers were unhappy about low rider fares and high Uber fees, which took 25 to 30 percent of their earnings.
In March 2026, hundreds of drivers in Lagos went on strike for three days. They protested that they could not make enough money.
Airport Safety Disagreements
Uber also had trouble with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
FAAN stopped Uber and Bolt from picking up people at airports because of safety complaints.
Olubunmi Kuku, the head of FAAN, said they did not force Uber to leave Nigeria.
However, FAAN wanted Uber to take legal responsibility for its drivers at the airport.
Uber refused. The company said its drivers are independent workers, not employees. Uber told passengers to just use the safety button in the app instead.
What Happens to the Drivers Now?
Car Loans and Debts
Uber’s sudden exit hurts thousands of Nigerian drivers who need the app to make money.
This is very bad for drivers who took out loans to buy their cars. Uber worked with a company called Moove to give these loans.
Moove raised $23 million to help Uber drivers buy cars. They used the driver’s Uber app data to approve the loans.
Now that the app is gone, these drivers still have to pay back the money but have no Uber income.
| Moove Car Loan Terms for Uber Drivers | Details |
| Car Price | $9,000 to $13,000 (Mostly Toyota cars) |
| First Payment | 5% deposit of the car’s price |
| Time to Pay Back | 24 to 48 months |
| Interest Rates | 8% to 13% |
| Green Energy Goal | 60% of cars will be electric or hybrid |
Other Apps Take Over
People in Nigeria have mixed feelings about Uber leaving. Some worry that travel will get harder and more expensive.
But rival apps are ready to take over. Bolt, an app from Estonia, is already the most downloaded ride app in Nigeria.
With Uber gone, Bolt can grow even more. Other apps like inDrive and LagRide are also trying to hire old Uber drivers.
A Hard Economy for Big Businesses
Rising Costs
Uber’s exit shows a bigger problem for global companies in Nigeria.
The country’s economy has been struggling with high inflation and weak currency for ten years.
In 2023, Nigeria stopped helping pay for petrol. This made fuel very expensive.
Higher fuel costs made it hard for drivers to earn money and for customers to afford rides.
Other Companies Leaving
Because of this unstable economy, many famous global brands have left Nigeria or reduced their work since 2023.
| Global Company | Business Type | What They Did in Nigeria Recently |
| GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) | Medicine | Stopped direct sales; uses other sellers now |
| Procter & Gamble (P&G) | Household Goods | Stopped making items in Nigeria; imports them instead |
| Unilever | Household Goods | Changed how they make things locally |
| Sanofi | Medicine | Stopped direct operations; uses local partners |
| Equinor | Energy | Sold their Nigerian oil business |
| Kimberly-Clark | Household Goods | Stopped making items in Nigeria |
| Pick n Pay | Stores | Sold 51% of their business to lower their risk |
Uber did not say inflation or fuel prices were the main reason for leaving. Still, the bad economy made it hard for them to make a profit.
The FCCPC investigation will be very important. It will show other big companies that they must still help their customers, even if they decide to leave Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Uber leave Nigeria?
Uber left Nigeria to change its global business and save money. The company is cutting 10% of its global workers and focusing its money on self-driving cars.
What is the Nigerian government investigating?
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is checking if Uber left without giving refunds or finishing rides that customers had already paid for.
Did Uber warn its drivers before leaving?
No. Uber turned off its app on September 2, 2026, without giving drivers or riders any warning in advance.
Did the airport authority force Uber out?
No. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said they did not kick Uber out. However, they did argue with Uber about driver safety rules before the company left.
What other ride apps can Nigerians use now?
People can still use apps like Bolt, inDrive, and LagRide. These companies are currently trying to win over Uber’s old customers and drivers.
