Uber’s Exit: A Negotiation for Safety and Convenience

Zainab Aderounmu

September 22, 2026

When Uber announced its exit from Nigeria, I was sad. Very sad. You’d think I owned shares in the business.

But, I was sad because in my experience with the three major ride services in Nigeria, I knew Uber’s exit had more consequences for a rider like me than just a reduction in options. And my experience since their exit has proven my apprehension right. 

“Madam, that your money is not worth AC”, the driver from Indrive stunned me into silence when I requested he put the AC on. I began to wonder how Indrive determines fair pricing for their users, and why he accepted the ride when he didn’t truly accept the value. 

“Madam, are you carrying pepper?” another driver from Bolt asked me on a short ride between Sheraton and LASUCOM Mosque in Ikeja. I was still wondering what he meant when he added, “you don’t have to be afraid”. 

When I asked him what he meant, he said I smelled like I was carrying pepper. That exchange left me anxious and pining for Uber. My sweet safe, price appropriate Uber with properly-assessed and polite drivers.

My experience in the past few weeks also brought back memories of terrible experiences that I’ve had with drivers on Indrive. One peculiar experience left me visibly shaken, after the driver violently threatened to beat me and my sisters in the back. I was on my way to compere an event in Ikeja, and because I was running late, I had no choice but to stay put in the back while he played loud vulgar music. Too loud for me to think. Do I have videos, yes I still do. Did I report the ride on Indrive? Absolutely, but did I get a valid response? NO!

Another experience with a driver who insisted on passing the inner routes in Lekki as opposed to the Lekki/Epe Expressway, made me wonder if Indrive actually vets their drivers. The negotiation feature is a good one, but is that same feature keeping the brand and overall brand mediocre? Because, even when the prices are high on Bolt or Uber, I choose them for safety and convenience. This particular Indriver had the nerve to ask me to “calm down, I’m not kidnapping you.”

I assumed I always had terrible experiences with Indrive until I began to ask my circle, and I heard horror stories. 

My friend Wale said, “Don’t stress yourself, it’s not about being a woman, Indrive drivers are somewhat useless. I’ve never entered an Indrive ride and they put on AC, never, I’ve come on this space to rant multiple times.”

Another rider, Queen, says she has video evidence of a terrible experience from an Indrive driver. 

“On Sunday afternoon, I had the worst experience of my life with a ride. Till now, I’m still scared to enter a ride, and I’m trying to find someone trusted who can take me to places. It became a very heated argument and this driver started threatening, cursing me and my cousin. And I feel he did all of that because we were just girls. I’m just wondering how safe it is out there for females on rides. I’ve still not come to terms with the experience. Because he picked us from Nostalgia, he started playing the prostitute card. He even threatened to bash the car, and “that nothing would happen”.

I think what struck me in Queen’s account was the “nothing would happen”, which demonstrates the utter lack of consequence when chaotic ride experiences happen on Indrive.

Outside of Queen’s experience, I spoke with a makeup artist who relies on rides for mobility. Here’s what Omolola had to say;

“I have stories from Indrive and Bolt, because both of them are literally the same. First, most of the cars are really bad. I once booked a very very smelly ride on Indrive. Another driver started toasting me inside a ride! He was very explicit and vulgar, and I was so scared of him touching me on the ride. The final ride I took on Indrive before swearing never to use it again, the driver complained four people were too many for the price the ride was offered at.”

How did Uber maintain a reasonable level of safety with their service? First, they had strict vehicular requirements and comprehensive insurance coverage. Beyond that, their proactive ride sensor detected when a driver had veered off course or had an unusual stop. At some point, I had to offer a 4-digit pin to the driver before he could start the ride. There are a few other ride services available, and I do plan to explore but this is a call for service providers to level up. A simple marketing campaign won’t fix core issues!

Reading this, you might say, then stick to Bolt! You may be right, but that’s exactly what Uber’s exit has created. 

Fewer options. More anxiety. 

About Author

Zainab Aderounmu A. W.

Zainab ADEROUNMU A. W. is a First Class graduate of English Language and the Overall Best Graduating Student from the Lagos State University, Lagos Nigeria. She’s a professional Master of Ceremonies, known as The Hijabi Compere , a public speaking coach and Communications Professional. She is currently a Youth advisor to the European Union where she doubles as the Spokesperson and Head of Communications & PR for the Youth Sounding Board.