Ride-hailing company Bolt has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria, saying it will remain in the country despite the exit of rival platform Uber and challenges facing the mobility sector.
Bolt, in a statement shared with Nairametrics, described Nigeria as an important market for its growth and assured riders, drivers and other stakeholders that it remains focused on strengthening its operations and expanding opportunities.
The assurance came on the same day Uber announced that it would wind down its operations in Nigeria and Uganda, effective September 2, 2026, following a review of its business priorities and investment focus across Africa.
Senior General Manager, Bolt West Africa, Teddy Appa-Dankyi, said the company remained committed to serving its customers and driver partners while expanding its presence in the country.
“Nigeria remains an important market for Bolt, and we remain firmly committed to the country.
“We have built a strong community of riders and driver partners over the years, and our focus is on continuing to serve them while strengthening our operations and creating more opportunities across the market,” Appa-Dankyi said.
He acknowledged that Uber’s exit could create uncertainty within the sector but said Bolt’s strategy remained focused on the long term.
“We recognise that there is understandably some uncertainty following recent developments in the industry.
“However, our focus remains firmly on the long term. We will continue working closely with our drivers, riders, regulators and other partners to contribute to a reliable, accessible and sustainable mobility ecosystem in Nigeria,” he added.
Bolt said its priorities in Nigeria include providing reliable mobility solutions for riders, creating earning opportunities for drivers and collaborating with stakeholders to support the development of the country’s mobility ecosystem.
Uber announced on Wednesday that it was shutting down its operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect.
The company said the decision followed a “thorough review” and was limited to the two markets, with no impact on its operations elsewhere in Africa.
Uber said it was redirecting investment towards markets where it believes it can create the most value for drivers by providing earning opportunities at scale and enabling riders to travel seamlessly.
The company also clarified that its decision to leave Nigeria was unrelated to the recent directive involving e-hailing operations at Nigerian airports.
Uber, Bolt and other ride-hailing operators had recently faced disruption at Nigerian airports following reports of a ban by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
FAAN subsequently denied imposing a blanket ban and, on August 27, cleared Bolt to resume e-hailing services at airports managed by the authority following a temporary interruption.
With Uber’s departure, Nigeria’s major ride-hailing market now has fewer prominent platforms, including Bolt, Lagos-backed LagRide and inDrive.
The development could reduce options for riders and drivers who typically compare fares and earning opportunities across multiple platforms.
While some drivers operate across several ride-hailing platforms, those who relied solely on Uber will now have to migrate to competing services or leave the sector.
Boluwatife Enome
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