By Abigail Mbah
Uber has paid out a one-time goodwill sum of ₦40,000 to some of its former drivers in Nigeria, days after shutting down operations in the country.
The ride-hailing company ended its services in Nigeria and Uganda on September 2, 2026, closing a 12-year chapter that began with its launch in Lagos in 2014. In messages to drivers around the shutdown, Uber said it would make a final one-off payment to help with the transition.
Drivers who qualified have since seen the money land. The payment shows up in the app as “Promotion – Goodwill Gesture.” It was credited on September 4 with a payout date of September 7.
Eligibility was limited to those who had been active on the platform in recent months, specifically drivers with three to six months of recent activity. Those who had gone inactive did not receive it. In some cases, outstanding debts drivers owed the platform were deducted from the ₦40,000, so the actual amount transferred was lower.
One driver who received the full sum described it as a goodwill gesture from the company. Another confirmed the figure but noted he was left out because of inactivity.
A third, who works across multiple apps including Bolt and inDrive, said the drop-off in ride requests on Uber had been obvious for some time, particularly after fuel prices rose sharply following the removal of the subsidy. He pointed to weaker purchasing power among passengers and overall economic pressure as factors that made the platform less viable.
Uber framed the exit as the result of a thorough review of its business priorities and investment focus across Africa. The company stressed that the decision applied only to Nigeria and Uganda and would not affect its operations elsewhere on the continent, where it says it continues to see growth opportunities. The move came on the same day Uber announced a broader global restructuring that includes cutting about 3,300 jobs, roughly 10 percent of its workforce, as it simplifies structures and shifts resources toward areas such as autonomous vehicles.
The departure leaves Bolt and inDrive as the main remaining large platforms for many drivers and riders in Nigerian cities. Local options also exist, but the underlying economics of the market; high operating costs, fuel prices, vehicle maintenance, and the need to keep fares affordable, have not changed.
Drivers interviewed after the announcement said they planned to put more effort into the competing apps, though some expressed concern that fewer platforms could eventually mean tighter conditions.
Uber’s help centre remains available until around September 23 to handle outstanding account issues for both riders and drivers. The company has said it is communicating directly with those affected and treating the goodwill payments as a token of appreciation separate from regular earnings.