Dele Oye: Uber Exit Exposes Nigeria’s Transport, Regulatory Gaps

Dele Oye, Chairman of the Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics, has criticized Nigeria's transport and regulatory framework, citing Uber's recent exit from the country. Oye argues that the decision exposes shortcomings in the nation's approach to emerging mobility platforms, particularly in terms of competition, consumer choice, airport operations, and transparency.

In a statement, Oye emphasized that the regulation of these platforms should safeguard public interest and security while avoiding barriers to competition and excessive transportation costs for consumers.

Uber announced its withdrawal from Nigeria's ride-hailing market on September 2, 2026, following a review of its business priorities across Africa. Oye, who previously served as President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, questioned the timing of the exit and its implications for consumers, mobility businesses, and the regulatory environment in Nigeria.

Oye stressed that airport transport requires regulation, but the focus should be on ensuring transparency, proportionality, and protection of both security and competition. He pointed to a case where an airport car-hire company quoted a foreign traveler N30,000 for a journey to Ikeja GRA, compared to Uber's fare of between N6,000–N8,000 for the same trip.

Oye argued that the public needs clear and proportional regulation, without resorting to "regulation by invoice," where licensing requirements, access conditions, and concession charges obscure the true costs and benefits.

He called for equal treatment of all licensed transport operators, including Uber, Bolt, inDrive, and traditional car-hire companies, with regulations focused on safety, operational risk, compliance costs, and service provision. Oye also urged regulatory authorities to maintain consumer choice by establishing designated pick-up areas, verifying drivers, and controlling solicitation at airports, while providing clear fare information and complaint mechanisms.

The situation follows Bolt's recent agreement with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to resume operations at FAAN-managed airports on August 27. Oye highlighted this as a positive development, demonstrating that security regulation and digital mobility can coexist if the rules are clear and fairly administered. He urged the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate Uber's withdrawal, focusing on outstanding obligations and consumer redress, without concluding that Uber acted improperly until a formal ruling is issued.

Oye warned against publishing unsubstantiated estimates of job losses due to Uber's departure, noting that the actual impact on the mobility ecosystem would depend on drivers' migration to alternative platforms or continuing informal operations. He concluded that the lesson from Uber's exit is that Nigeria needs better regulation—clear, risk-based, published in advance, fairly administered, and subject to review—rather than less regulation, which would fail to address both security and affordability concerns.