Automobile marketing communications expert and Professor of Marketology at Delta State University, Abraka, Oscar Odibo, has suggested interim ground transport model for air passengers following Uber’s exit from the country.
Odibo, who decried the exit of the company also warned that such development could create a vacuum that other e-hailing operators may exploit by increasing fares.
He explained that the withdrawal of the e-hailing company after more than a decade of operations should raise concerns for the government and users of their services, suggesting optional models for air passengers.
According to him, reduced competition in the market could give remaining operators greater pricing power, ultimately leaving passengers and other commuters to bear the cost.
‘Nigeria should be ready for exploitation from the e-hailing service operators because a huge competition has left,’ he said.
The don also noted that charges imposed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) within the airport environment were already higher than what Uber charged, suggesting that the company’s exit could further increase the cost of ground transportation for air travellers.
He, called on the Federal Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding Uber’s decision to withdraw from Nigeria and sanction any individual or agency found to have contributed to the development.
‘Uber has operated in Nigeria for over a decade. For a company to leave after such a long period calls for caution. The government needs to find out what happened and why the company decided to exit,’ he said.
Odibo warned that the development could also have implications for future investment in Nigeria’s e-hailing and mobility ecosystem.
‘All those investors in the e-hailing business will be considering whether to halt their investments. They will look at the reaction of the government. That is why I want the government to probe the situation,’ he said.
He added that Uber’s departure could cause other operators to reassess their business strategies, while private e-hailing companies could seek to capitalise on the gap created by its exit.
‘With the exit, investors will slow down. Other e-hailing service providers will realign themselves. Private e-hailing operators will begin to think twice, while many of them may want to cash in on the vacuum that Uber’s exit has created,’ he said.
On the implications for air travellers and regular commuters who rely on ride-hailing platforms, Odibo advised them to consider alternative transportation options, including conventional taxis.
He said the development could provide an opportunity for yellow taxi operators to become more active and competitive, particularly around airports and other major transport hubs.
Odibo also called for accountability, saying officials or agencies whose actions contributed to the exit should be identified and sanctioned.
He warned that if the government failed to properly investigate the matter and take corrective measures, other foreign companies could draw similar conclusions about Nigeria’s business environment.
He described Uber as a company that had become an important part of Nigeria’s transportation and automotive ecosystem, saying its exit should therefore be treated as more than a mere corporate decision.
Uber officially described the move as the result of a review of its evolving business priorities and investment focus across Africa, rather than giving a single specific reason.
However, Uber’s exit came only weeks after FAAN restricted commercial e-hailing pick-ups at its airports.