Abuja, September 14, 2026 — Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico and former presidential aide Reno Omokri has attributed the recent exit of ride-hailing giant Uber from Nigeria to the country’s expanding public rail infrastructure, particularly in Lagos and Abuja.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, Omokri argued that Uber’s standard business model — introducing mass low-cost transportation to undercut traditional taxis — succeeded in markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom but could not compete with Nigeria’s recent transport upgrades.
“I’m going to give you an example of Lagos. The business model that Uber has is that they come into your country, and then they bring about mass low-ticket transportation, so that they price out the regular taxis. This is what they’ve done successfully in several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom,” Omokri said.
“They tried that in this country, and it was succeeding. But look at what was happening in Lagos. The infrastructural development in Lagos has been so wide, has been so extensive, that it’s now possible for you to get from point A to point B in Lagos at a fraction of the cost, using the blue line, the red line, and soon the green line is coming up on stream.
“In Abuja, you can get from anywhere from point A. From your station, from this channel station, you can actually get to the airport in Abuja by rail. And so Uber could not compete because of the advancement of infrastructure in Nigeria. So these are the things that you should be talking about.”
Uber officially wound down its operations in Nigeria (and Uganda) on September 2, 2026, after 12 years in the country, citing a review of its business priorities and investment focus across Africa. The company continues to operate in other African markets including South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt and Morocco.
Omokri’s comments come amid wider debate over the reasons for Uber’s departure. Industry analyses have also pointed to macroeconomic pressures, including the sharp rise in fuel prices following the 2023 subsidy removal, naira depreciation, high operating costs for drivers, intense competition from platforms such as Bolt and inDrive, and relatively low average trip values compared with Uber’s global figures.
Omokri, however, framed the exit as evidence of positive progress in Nigeria’s transport sector rather than solely a failure of the operating environment. He urged focus on the expanding rail options that now offer commuters significantly cheaper alternatives for major routes in the country’s largest cities.
The comments form part of ongoing public discussion about the future of ride-hailing in Nigeria following Uber’s exit, with remaining operators and local alternatives expected to fill the gap.
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