By Ghazali Ibrahim
Ride-hailing company Bolt has reassured Nigerians that it will remain in the country despite the exit of its major rival, Uber, from the Nigerian market.
Bolt’s Senior General Manager for West Africa, Teddy Appa-Dankyi, said Nigeria remained an important market for the company and that it was “firmly committed” to continuing its operations.
He said Bolt would continue working with riders, drivers, regulators and other stakeholders while strengthening its operations and creating more opportunities across the country.
The assurance came after Uber ended its 12-year operation in Nigeria on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, following what it described as a review of its business priorities and investment focus across Africa.
Uber, which launched in Lagos in 2014 before expanding to other Nigerian cities, also shut down its operations in Uganda. The company said the decision was limited to the two markets and would not affect its other African operations.
Bolt’s commitment comes amid concerns about the future of Nigeria’s e-hailing sector following Uber’s departure, with operators facing rising fuel and vehicle maintenance costs, inflation and intense competition.
Meanwhile, asides exiting Nigeria, Uber will also be laying off atleast 3000 workers as they continue to restructure.
Bolt and other operators, including inDrive and LagRide, are now positioned to absorb users and drivers affected by Uber’s exit.
