Uber officially shut down its operations in Nigeria on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, bringing an end to 12 years of business in the country.

While the company has diplomatically described the move as part of a review of its business priorities and investment focus, its exit comes at a difficult time for businesses operating in Nigeria.

Companies are facing a combination of rising operating costs, inflation, currency instability, weaker consumer purchasing power and an increasingly unpredictable business environment.

And that is where the bigger conversation begins.

Why is Nigeria struggling to remain an attractive destination for businesses despite being one of Africa’s largest consumer markets?

The Tinubu-led APC administration inherited a fragile economy and introduced major reforms aimed at stabilising it. But Nigerians cannot ignore the reality that businesses are still under enormous pressure, while some companies are shutting down, scaling back or redirecting investments elsewhere.

Economic performance should not be measured by statistics alone. It should also be measured by whether businesses can survive, expand, employ more people and confidently invest in the country.

Uber’s exit should therefore serve as a wake-up call.

Nigeria needs an economic environment that makes businesses want to come, stay and expand—not one that gradually pushes them toward the exit.

If the government wants to attract serious local and foreign investment, it must urgently address the conditions making it increasingly expensive and difficult to do business in Nigeria.

Because when major companies leave, the consequences go beyond corporate boardrooms. Jobs, investment, competition and opportunities for millions of Nigerians are affected.

And that leaves Nigerians with a very uncomfortable question:

Is Tinubunomics creating an investment-friendly Nigeria—or are we simply being asked to endure the pain and “bole ka ja”? (The Guardian)

Ride-hailing company, Uber, has shut down its operations in Nigeria.

In a statement, the company, which came into Nigeria in 2014, said its exit is effective from September 2, 2026.

“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 apologize for the inconvenience.”

In a memo on Wednesday, the ride-hailing company also announced elimination of roughly 3,300 positions.

The job cuts focused on management and coordination roles, according to its CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi.

“Today, we’re making a number of significant organizational 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 organized and what we’re prioritizing, not about anyone’s contributions to Uber, which we will always value.

“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.

“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 layoffs are the latest round of job cuts for Uber, which eliminated roles in customer service and HR earlier this year.

 •  Search ongoing for absconded Police Inspector

The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed three policemen involved in the killing of 22-year-old Anthony Obodo, a graduate of the University of Port Harcourt.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Olugbenga Adepoju, who disclosed this in a media briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said the decision followed an orderly trail conducted on the suspects and others at large.

On the 27th of August, a police patrol team led by one Fabian Kpeanabari, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, had shot and killed Anthony after it was alleged that the victim, who was driving in a tinted Lexus car, had refused to stop after the police team had flagged him down.

The victim, who was waiting for his NYSC call-up letter, was shot to death at the popular Ada George Road in Port Harcourt by the dismissed police officers.

The development had sparked pandemonium in the state as youths from the Ndele Community in the Emohua Local Government Area of the state and other areas stormed the Agip area of Port Harcourt in heavy protest

Speaking, Adepoju said the affected officers would subsequently be charged to court to face the appropriate criminal charges in accordance with the law.

He said, “I am here to provide updates on some serious incidents recently recorded in the state, including the investigation into the death of one Anthony A. Obodo, ‘Male’, a student, following a police pursuit and unfortunate shooting incident, as well as the arrest of suspected members of a one-chance robbery syndicate operating within Port Harcourt and its environs.

“Let me state clearly that the Rivers State Police Command places a high premium on professionalism, accountability, respect for human rights and the protection of lives and property.

“Where allegations of misconduct or criminality are made against police personnel, we will not shield any officer found to have acted outside the law under my watch.

“The patrol team consequently gave chase to the deceased, and during the pursuit, Corporal Alfred Louis, who is attached to the patrol team, opened fire at the vehicle, and a bullet hit the driver identified as Anthony A. Obodo, who sustained a gunshot injury.”

“The victim was immediately rushed to Palmer’s Hospital, Port Harcourt, where he was attended to and subsequently confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

“The three members of the patrol team were immediately arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation, where a Department (SCID), Port-Harcourt, comprehensive investigation into the case was carried out.”

Meanwhile, the CP said efforts have been intensified to locate and arrest Inspector Solomon Nworgu, who allegedly absconded following the incident. (Vanguard)