Uber exits Nigeria and Uganda effective Sept 2, cuts 3,300 jobs

Uber halted operations in Nigeria and Uganda on September 2, 2026, after reviewing its business in those markets, the company told the BBC. The exit affects riders and drivers who relied on the platform for transport and income. At the same time, Uber restored Visa card payments for users in Kenya eight months after removing the option due to rising payment costs; Visa now appears alongside M-PESA, PayPal and Airtel Money in the app.

The Nigeria-Uganda pullback is part of Uber's broader cost-cutting drive. On Wednesday the firm announced it will cut about 3,300 corporate jobs worldwide, roughly 10% of its workforce, after ending 2025 with roughly 34,000 employees. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the restructuring will reduce management layers, simplify team structures, consolidate teams and limit fully remote roles to about 1% of staff.

For Nigerians, the immediate impact is loss of Uber as a ride-hailing option. Riders will need to turn to alternatives such as Bolt, inDrive, local taxi apps or traditional taxis. Drivers should explore other platforms or consider diversifying income sources. Uber said the decision is limited to Nigeria and Uganda and will not affect its operations elsewhere in Africa, so the Visa restoration in Kenya does not change service availability in Nigeria.

SOURCE: https://techcabal.com/2026/09/04/uber-restores-visa-payments-in-kenya-after-eight-month-pause/