Oye: Uber’s exit exposes gaps in Nigeria’s transport regulation, consumer choice.
The Chairman of the Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics (AERE), Dele Oye, has said Uber’s withdrawal from Nigeria after 12 years of operation has exposed gaps in the country’s transport regulatory framework, particularly in competition, consumer choice, airport operations and transparency.
Oye said the development should trigger a broader review of the way Nigeria regulates emerging mobility platforms, stressing that regulation must protect public safety and security without creating unnecessary barriers to competition or driving up transportation costs.
Uber on September 2, 2026, attributed the decision to a review of its business priorities and investment focus across Africa, adding that its withdrawal was unrelated to the recent directive by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on e-hailing operations at Nigerian airports.
However, Oye said the timing, amid disagreements over e-hailing operations at airports, raised concerns about the country’s regulatory environment and its implications for mobility businesses and consumers.