By Seun Ibiyemi
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has launched an investigation into Uber’s abrupt withdrawal from the Nigerian market, focusing on how the ride-hailing company handled its outstanding obligations to customers.
The FCCPC Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, disclosed this in an interview with Bloomberg on Sunday, saying the commission was examining the circumstances surrounding the company’s departure.
“We are looking into the manner of their exit, particularly in respect of unfulfilled services to the customers,” Bello said.
Uber announced on September 2 that it was winding down its operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect.
The company said the decision followed a “thorough review” and stressed that the withdrawal was limited to the two markets and would not affect its operations elsewhere in Africa.
The commission’s probe is expected to focus on how Uber managed its relationship with customers following the termination of its Nigerian operations.
The investigation comes as the company’s sudden departure raises questions about outstanding customer-related obligations and services that may have remained unresolved when operations ended.
The FCCPC’s intervention places Uber’s exit under regulatory scrutiny as the commission seeks to establish whether consumers were adequately protected during the company’s withdrawal.
Uber’s departure has created an opportunity for rival ride-hailing platforms, including Bolt and inDrive, to strengthen their positions in Nigeria’s transportation market.
Both platforms have signalled plans to expand their presence and attract drivers and customers affected by Uber’s exit.
Uber had operated in Nigeria for more than a decade, establishing itself as one of the country’s major app-based transportation providers.
However, its operations were repeatedly affected by disputes with drivers over fares, commission rates and working conditions.
Drivers staged protests against the company in 2017, 2023 and 2025.
Uber’s withdrawal from Nigeria and Uganda also came amid a broader global restructuring by the company.
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The ride-hailing giant announced plans to cut more than 3,000 jobs worldwide as part of efforts to reduce management layers, control costs and refocus spending on its core business.
While Uber said the Nigerian and Ugandan exits were specific to those markets, the timing has raised wider questions about the company’s strategy and priorities across emerging markets.
For the FCCPC, however, the immediate concern is the impact of the withdrawal on Nigerian consumers and whether all outstanding services and obligations were properly addressed before the company ceased operations.
