Dele Oye: Uber Exit Exposes Nigeria’s Transport, Regulatory Gaps
Dele Oye says Uber’s exit exposes regulatory gaps and urges reforms to protect security, competition and consumer choice.
The Chairman of the Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics (AERE), Dele Oye, has said Uber’s decision to exit Nigeria after 12 years of operations exposed gaps in the country’s transport and regulatory system, particularly around competition, consumer choice, airport operations and transparency in governance and management.
In a statement on Sunday, Oye said the exit of the global ride-hailing company should prompt a broader review of how Nigeria regulates emerging mobility platforms, stressing that regulation must protect security and public interest without creating unnecessary barriers to competition or increasing the cost of transportation 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.
Oye, ex-President of the Nigerian Association of the Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), said the timing of the exit, coming amid an intense dispute over e-hailing operations at airports, had raised legitimate questions about Nigeria’s regulatory environment and the implications for consumers and mobility businesses.