There are times when a personal experience becomes a mirror of the society in which we live. Recently, I parked my car because I could no longer comfortably afford the fuel to run it. I needed to get somewhere, so I did what many Nigerians are increasingly doing: I jumped on a commercial motorcycle. It was cheaper, quicker and, for that moment, more practical. I was just praying, I should not fall off from the bike. But as I sat on that bike, I could not help asking myself: what has happened to a country where owning and driving a private car was once considered a normal part of comfortable living?

Today, the cost of fuel, maintenance, spare parts and other necessities is forcing many car owners to leave their vehicles at home. Against this reality comes another worrying development: Uber is gone. Hmmmmmm what a tragedy? After 12 years of operation, the company officially ended its Nigerian operations on September 2, 2026. Its departure is more than the story of one company leaving Nigeria; it is a reflection of the increasing cost of doing business and living in the country.

For record sake, Uber began operations in Nigeria in 2014, starting in Lagos before expanding to other cities. It quickly changed the way Nigerians moved around. With a smartphone, passengers could request a ride, know the driver’s identity, see the estimated fare and avoid the usual stress of negotiating with taxi drivers. For many young professionals, visitors and families, Uber offered convenience, safety and reliability. It also created an opportunity for thousands of Nigerians to earn a living with their cars.

In many ways, Uber represented the promise of a modern Nigeria where technology could make everyday life easier. People enjoyed the service because it saved time and reduced the stress associated with transportation. However, after 12 years, the company has folded up its Nigeria’s operations. Rising fuel prices, inflation, the unstable exchange rate, vehicle maintenance costs and the general increase in operating expenses have made the business environment increasingly difficult.

Uber’s departure should therefore make us look beyond the company itself and ask a more important question: if a global company with technology, capital and experience can no longer find Nigeria attractive enough to continue operating, what does that say about the environment facing smaller Nigerian businesses?

It is certain that everyone go chop breakfast, when it will happen to you is what we do not know. The implication for Nigerians is significant. Uber’s exit means that thousands of drivers who depended on the platform have lost an important source of income, while passengers have lost one of their major transportation options. It could also mean less competition and, eventually, higher fares for commuters. But the deeper concern is what Uber’s experience says about the ordinary Nigerian. A business must make enough money to survive, yet it is becoming increasingly difficult for businesses to operate without transferring rising costs to consumers.

The consumer, in turn, is already struggling with the high cost of food, transportation, electricity and other necessities. We are therefore trapped in a cycle: businesses increase prices because their costs are rising, while consumers reduce spending because their incomes cannot keep pace. When this continues for too long, everybody suffers. The shopkeeper, the driver, the manufacturer, the employee and the ordinary customer all feel the pressure. Uber’s exit is therefore not simply a corporate decision; it is a warning about the economic environment in which Nigerians are trying to survive.

Perhaps the most troubling message, however, is for those of us who own private cars. If a company whose entire business depends on putting cars on Nigerian roads finds the environment too expensive, what does that say about the private car owner? The cost of driving is no longer just the price of petrol. There is servicing, engine oil, tyres, vehicle license, insurance, spare parts, repairs and the poor condition of many roads. Fuel alone can determine whether a person makes a journey or stays at home.

This is why my decision to park my car and jump on a bike is becoming the experience of many Nigerians. Some people now plan their movements according to the amount of fuel in their tanks. Others combine several errands into one trip simply to reduce fuel consumption. When citizens begin to avoid using the cars they worked hard to buy because they cannot afford to maintain them, something is fundamentally wrong with the economy.

Uber’s departure should therefore concern the government and the general public. I just hope one person will read this article and inform those who need to hear it. Nigeria cannot build a prosperous economy where the cost of energy, transportation and business operations continues to rise beyond the capacity of ordinary citizens. The country has a large population, a huge consumer market, talented young people and abundant natural resources. We are so blessed a country that there is nothing good you are searching for that you will not see in this country. The International Energy Agency has also pointed to Nigeria’s potential for significantly increased energy investment. Yet potential alone cannot put food on the table or keep businesses open. Government must create an environment where businesses can survive, workers can earn decent incomes and citizens can afford basic mobility. We need policies that reduce the cost of energy, improve infrastructure, stabilize the business environment and encourage investment rather than drive it away. The departure of one company may appear insignificant when viewed alone, but it becomes troubling when it forms part of a wider pattern of rising costs and declining purchasing power.

Uber has taken its final ride in Nigeria, but perhaps its departure should become the beginning of a serious national conversation. The question is not merely, “Why did Uber leave?” The bigger question is, “What kind of country are we becoming?” A country where a man parks his car because he cannot afford fuel; where a business struggles to survive because operating costs are too high; where a family thinks twice before making a journey; and where a motorcycle becomes cheaper than driving one’s own car is a country that must pause and reflect. Nigeria has the resources and the people to become an economic giant, but prosperity cannot be built on potential alone.

We must make the country affordable for those who live here and attractive to those who want to invest here. Otherwise, Uber may not be the last company to leave, and Nigerians may not be the last people to park their cars. When citizens can no longer afford to drive the cars they own, the problem is no longer transportation; it is the economy itself. May God help us as we continue to help ourselves.