Moove Shuts Nigeria Operations, Hands N35 Billion Worth of Vehicles to Customers

Moove, the Uber-backed vehicle financing and mobility company, ended its Nigerian operations on Thursday, October 8, 2026, closing down in the same market where it was founded. The exit comes roughly one month after Uber wound down its 12-year presence in Nigeria and Uganda.

Instead of a plain shutdown, Moove said it will transfer vehicles worth about N35 billion ($26.3 million) to eligible customers who had been operating them under its Drive-to-Own and rental products. Those customers will not pay Moove anything extra for the vehicles. Staff members will also get a free car as part of the exit arrangement.

Delano Confirms Scale of Nigerian Business

Ladi Delano, Moove's co-founder, co-CEO and advisory board chairman, said more than 9,000 customers had used the company's products in Nigeria. He said those customers "generated approximately N57 billion in revenue through Moove-financed vehicles", adding that the numbers represented "Nigerians earning money, supporting their families and building their futures."

Moove's Nigerian closure follows Uber's decision in September 2026 to pull out of Nigeria and Uganda after reviewing how it allocates investment across Africa. Uber said its operations elsewhere on the continent would not be affected. Reports later emerged that Uber was preparing to cut about 3,000 jobs globally as part of a wider restructuring tied to its Africa pullback.

Not a Global Retreat

Moove insisted the Nigerian closure does not signal the end of its wider business. The company currently operates 42,000 vehicles across 29 cities internationally, which points to a decision specific to Nigeria rather than a full global exit.

The shake-up leaves Bolt, inDrive and LagRide among the platforms serving demand for app-based transport in the country. Bolt has publicly declared it will stay in Nigeria after Uber announced its exit, effective September 2, 2026. Teddy Appa-Dankyi, senior general manager of Bolt West Africa, said Nigeria continues to hold significant importance for the company, adding that Nigeria remains an important market for Bolt and the firm remains firmly committed to the country.

What It Means for Customers and the Market

For Moove customers, the vehicle transfer offers a route to outright ownership of cars they had been driving under a financing scheme, which could soften the blow of the company's departure. For the wider ride-hailing market, the loss of two major players in quick succession leaves rival platforms to absorb demand, even as questions remain over how vehicle financing for drivers will be funded going forward.