The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has described the African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s reaction to the recent exit of ride-hailing company Uber from Nigeria as “ignorant and embarrassing,” insisting that the company had clearly stated its reasons for leaving the Nigerian and Ugandan markets.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group said the ADC’s interpretation of Uber’s decision reflected what it described as an attempt to exploit every negative narrative about Nigeria for political purposes.
TMSG said Uber had attributed its decision to leave Nigeria and Uganda to a global restructuring exercise that included the laying off of about 3,300 employees worldwide, rather than to the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration as claimed by the opposition party.
The group accused the ADC and its media handlers of being out of touch with developments in Nigeria, saying they were too eager to criticise the Tinubu administration without properly examining the circumstances surrounding Uber’s business decision.
“While Uber had emphasised that it was leaving Nigeria and Uganda owing to its global restructuring that also entailed laying off about 3,300 employees worldwide, ADC opted to describe its exit from Nigeria as a reaction to the economic policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration,” TMSG said.
The group further argued that anyone familiar with the ride-hailing industry in Nigeria would understand that Uber had faced operational challenges with riders in the country, adding that the decision should therefore not automatically be interpreted as a vote of no confidence in the Nigerian economy.
TMSG said it would have been more concerning if Uber had specifically blamed the Nigerian economy or government policies for its exit, noting that other ride-hailing companies operating in the country had continued to express confidence in their businesses and willingness to fill any gap created by Uber’s departure.
The group also pointed out that Uber had previously withdrawn from Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire, describing the development as further evidence that its decision in Nigeria was part of a broader business restructuring.
According to TMSG, Uber’s continued interest in the Nigerian market through other investments also contradicts the ADC’s claim that Nigeria has become a “graveyard of businesses.”
“It is also interesting that as Uber is exiting e-hailing business in the country, it has acquired a major stake in Spanish startup, Glovo, which incidentally lists Nigeria as its fastest-growing market in the world,” the group said.
TMSG noted that Glovo had paid its Nigerian partners N71 billion in three years, describing the figure as an indication of the size and profitability of the Nigerian market.
The group said Uber’s investment in Glovo, despite its withdrawal from the ride-hailing business, showed that Nigeria remained an attractive market for businesses and investors.
TMSG also cited the reported comeback of Okin biscuit, one of Nigeria’s popular biscuit brands, after a 17-year shutdown of its factory, as another indication that businesses were still finding opportunities in the Nigerian economy.
It therefore accused the ADC of politicising what it described as a purely commercial decision by a multinational company.
“It beggars belief that a party posturing as an alternative to the ruling APC would be so cheap and loose to go to the extent of playing politics with a strictly business decision of a company,” TMSG said.
