The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has opened an investigation into Uber’s abrupt withdrawal from Nigeria, with the regulator examining whether the ride-hailing company left customers with unresolved payments, balances or services when it shut down operations.
The probe follows Uber’s decision to stop accepting new trips in Nigeria on September 2, 2026, bringing its 12-year presence in the country to an end. The company entered the Nigerian market through Lagos in 2014 before expanding its ride-hailing services to other cities.
Tunji Bello, Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, confirmed that the commission is examining how the company handled its departure, particularly whether consumers paid for or were entitled to services that remained outstanding after operations ended.
Brandspur Brand News reports that the investigation puts consumer protection at the centre of Uber’s exit, with attention now shifting to how affected riders and other users will recover outstanding funds or resolve pending account issues.
Uber has kept its Help Centre available until September 23 to address unresolved matters involving users following the shutdown.
The company’s departure took some riders and drivers by surprise and raised questions over outstanding account balances, payments and other obligations that could remain after access to regular ride-hailing services ended.
Uber said its decision to leave Nigeria followed an internal review and described the move as difficult, although it did not provide a specific reason for ending operations in the country.
The company also withdrew from Uganda at the same time, while maintaining operations in other African markets.
For the FCCPC, the central question is whether Uber complied with its obligations to Nigerian consumers during the shutdown process. The commission has yet to announce what regulatory measures, if any, could follow the investigation.
The withdrawal comes as ride-hailing operators and drivers in Nigeria contend with higher operating costs, including fuel and vehicle expenses, alongside inflation, exchange-rate pressures and weaker consumer purchasing power.
Competition within the market has also intensified, with platforms including Bolt and inDrive competing for riders and drivers across major Nigerian cities.
Uber’s Nigerian exit forms part of a broader restructuring by the company, which has also announced plans to reduce its global workforce by about 3,300 employees.
The outcome of the FCCPC investigation could determine whether Uber will be required to take additional steps to settle outstanding consumer matters despite having stopped ride-hailing operations in Nigeria.
