'Uber rapture' leaves passengers and drivers behind in Nigeria and Uganda

In what some are dubbing the "Uber rapture," the ride-hailing pioneer has abruptly quit Nigeria and Uganda.

Far from drivers and their cars ascending to some surge-priced afterlife, users reported the service shutting down while rides were still underway.

"A friend of mine said they were on a ride when they got the message," one observer wrote on X.

"She told the driver and he said, 'It's a lie!'" – a phrase widely used in Nigeria to express disbelief or call out what one perceives to be bullshit.

Unfortunately for drivers who rely on the platform for their livelihood, it wasn't.

The shutdown came with little apparent warning.

In both countries, Uber sent notices on September 2 saying the service would cease that same day.

"We are writing to share some difficult news," the email to Nigerian customers began, according to TechCabal.

A separate message to drivers acknowledged: "We know this is heavy news," and promised active drivers a one-off goodwill payment "to help ease this change." Some customers lamented the service's departure, describing it as one of the country's safer transport options.

Ugandan users and local partners received much the same abrupt farewell.

Uber said it had been "an absolute privilege" to serve Kampala since 2016 and promised to keep in-app support available for 21 days to settle outstanding issues, according to the Daily Monitor.

Rivals Faras, Bolt, and SafeBoda will now be eyeing the space it left behind.

Uber confirmed that it had wound down operations in both countries on September 2.

"This decision is limited strictly to these two markets and does not impact our operations across the rest of the continent," it said in a statement.