The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has begun examining Uber’s exit from Nigeria, especially to determine if the ride-hailing company left behind unfulfilled services or obligations to customers.
The commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, disclosed this in a message to Bloomberg, which reported on Sunday that the regulator was investigating the circumstances surrounding Uber’s departure from the Nigerian market.
FCCPC officials “are looking into the manner of their exit, particularly in respect of unfulfilled services to the customers,” Bello said.
The development comes four days after Uber announced that it would winnd down its operations in Nigeria and Uganda, effective September 2, 2026.
The decision ended Uber’s 12-year presence in Nigeria, following its launch in Lagos in 2014. The announcement reportedly caught some riders and drivers off guard.
Uber did not provide a specific reason for its departure from Nigeria, saying only that it had made the “tough decision” to wind down its operations.
The company informed drivers that they would no longer be able to receive rider trip requests through the Uber app from September 2.
Uber also said its Help Centre would remain available until September 24 to assist drivers with questions relating to the shutdown.
Uber’s exit comes amid intense competition in Nigeria’s ride-hailing market, with operators such as Bolt and inDrive competing for passengers and drivers.
Also Read: Uber may cut 3,000 jobs in global restructuring
The sector has also faced wider economic pressures, including rising operating costs and changes in consumer spending patterns.
The FCCPC’s probe is expected to focus on whether customers had outstanding services, obligations or other unresolved issues following the company’s withdrawal from the Nigerian market.
Uber’s departure also followed a recent disagreement between the company and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, over the regulation of e-hailing services at Nigerian airports.
FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku said the authority had no role in Uber’s decision to leave Nigeria, stressing that its interventions were driven by passenger safety, accountability and concerns over touting at airports.
Kuku said FAAN had been seeking liability provisions from e-hailing companies concerning the conduct and safety of drivers operating through their platforms.
She explained that the authority wanted the companies to take greater responsibility for drivers using their platforms, but the firms maintained that the drivers were independent operators rather than their employees.
According to Kuku, the disagreement became particularly significant in discussions over how safety concerns involving e-hailing drivers and passengers should be addressed.
The FCCPC’s investigation now places Uber’s departure under regulatory scrutiny as the commission examines whether Nigerian consumers were left with unresolved obligations following the company’s exit.
PUNCH
