Six delivery services Nigerian SMEs can use after Uber's exit

Uber has shut its ride-hailing platform and Uber Send in Nigeria, ending a logistics service that helped several small businesses for over seven years. Nigerian SMEs now have multiple local delivery options to fill the gap, though no single platform is a perfect replacement for every Uber delivery use case.

Why Uber's exit hurts SMEs

Small and medium-sized enterprises relied on Uber drivers to move products, documents and other goods across cities for last-mile delivery. The exit comes as Nigerian businesses already face rising logistics costs, making reliable and affordable delivery services important to online sellers, retailers and other small businesses.

Delivery alternatives to consider

Kwik Delivery is one of the closest alternatives for SMEs looking for on-demand delivery. The firm focuses on business-to-business and last-mile deliveries. Merchants can request pickups and deliveries through its platform, with real-time tracking. Kwik currently lists Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan among its Nigerian operating cities. It said deliveries can take up to two hours in Lagos and one hour in Abuja and Ibadan, though actual times depend on traffic, demand and the particular order.

For SMEs selling fashion, cosmetics, food, electronics and other relatively small products within a city, Kwik may be a direct alternative to the convenience they previously got from ride-hailing drivers.

GIG Logistics Lekki Admiralty offers a broader logistics network for businesses moving goods beyond their immediate city. It is structured around parcel and logistics delivery, including interstate shipments. For an SME sending products from Lagos to customers in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Benin City or other locations, a dedicated logistics company makes more sense than relying on individual ride-hailing drivers.

Sendbox is another option for online merchants, particularly businesses selling through Instagram, WhatsApp and e-commerce channels. Instead of operating simply as a courier, Sendbox helps online businesses manage logistics and deliveries. This is useful for SMEs that have moved beyond occasional deliveries and need a more structured system for fulfilling multiple customer orders.

Uber's exit could also benefit Nigeria's fragmented network of independent dispatch and courier companies. For SMEs with regular delivery volumes, negotiating directly with a dispatch company or fleet operator can sometimes be more practical than booking individual trips. The trade-off is that businesses may have to manage more of the relationship themselves, including rider reliability, tracking, customer support and proof of delivery.

Bolt remains a major mobility platform in Nigeria, but SMEs should be careful about assuming that every Bolt delivery product available internationally is also available in Nigeria. Bolt operates delivery-related services in some markets, including Bolt Send, which allows on-demand parcel delivery, but its website notes that products and features vary by country. Nigerian businesses should confirm the relevant services in their city in the Bolt app before treating it as a direct replacement for Uber's former delivery use case.

What Uber's exit means for Nigerian businesses

The disappearance of one platform exposes a bigger weakness in Nigeria's e-commerce ecosystem: last-mile logistics, which has remained one of the highest costs of doing business online. The cost of transporting products across Lagos can significantly reduce the seller's margin and is often passed on to the consumer, who pays delivery fees. Businesses should consider delivery costs when setting prices, rather than treating logistics as an afterthought.