Uber exit exposes Nigeria’s transport, regulatory gaps — Oye

The Chairman of the Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics (AERE), Dele Oye, has said Uber’s decision to exit Nigeria after 12 years has exposed gaps in the country’s transport and regulatory system, particularly in competition, consumer choice, airport operations and governance. In a statement, Oye said the exit of the global ride-hailing company should prompt a broader review of how Nigeria regulates emerging mobility platforms. He stressed that regulation should protect security and the public interest without creating unnecessary barriers to competition or increasing transportation costs for consumers.

Uber announced on September 2, 2026, that it would wind down its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria after 12 years. The company said the decision followed a review of its business priorities and investment focus across Africa and specifically stated that its exit was unrelated to the recent directive by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) concerning e-hailing operations at Nigerian airports. Oye cautioned against attributing Uber’s departure to any single factor, noting that available evidence did not establish that the FAAN measures caused the company’s decision.

He, however, said the timing of the exit, amid an intense dispute over e-hailing operations at airports, raised legitimate questions about Nigeria’s regulatory environment and its implications for consumers and mobility businesses. “The issue is not whether Nigeria should regulate airport transport. Airports are sensitive security environments, and authorities have a legitimate responsibility to know who is transporting passengers from their premises,” Oye said.

“The question is whether regulation is transparent, proportionate and designed in a way that protects both security and competition.” Oye said recent developments at Nigerian airports had highlighted the need for greater transparency in the regulation of transport services. FAAN, however, said its framework was aimed at improving the identification of drivers and vehicles, operational visibility, passenger safety, and the management of solicitation and touting within airport premises. The Authority also explained that its ACHRAMS platform was designed as an airport management and operational visibility system, rather than an e-hailing platform intended to compete with Uber or Bolt.