Why Hundeyin Linked Uber Nigeria Exit to Alleged CIA Contract Expiration

By Daniel Othegbemeh

Investigative journalist David Hundeyin has alleged that Uber’s 12-year presence in Nigeria was driven less by ride-hailing profits than by data gathering, and suggested that the company’s exit may be linked to the expiration of an alleged United States government contract.

Hundeyin made the claims in a post on X on September 3, 2026, while analysing Uber’s business model and its decision to leave Nigeria.

According to him, Uber’s model of entering markets with low fares, absorbing losses through venture capital funding and later raising prices after gaining market dominance was unsuitable for Nigeria’s highly price-sensitive transport market.

He argued that many Nigerians could not afford to use private ride-hailing services regularly, while those with higher incomes often owned cars or employed personal drivers. He also pointed to cheaper alternatives, including danfo buses, BRT, keke, okada and walking, as factors limiting Uber’s potential market.

Hundeyin, who said he drove for Uber for three months in 2016, also criticised the economics of the platform from the perspective of drivers and vehicle owners. He claimed that fuel, repairs and vehicle depreciation made it difficult for drivers to earn substantial profits.

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“There was no real business case for Uber Nigeria,” he wrote, adding that the company’s continued presence was allegedly linked to another purpose.

Hundeyin alleged that Uber’s real business in Nigeria was data gathering. He claimed that information collected through the platform, including users’ home and work addresses, travel routes and movement patterns, could provide valuable intelligence.

He further alleged that Uber was part of the United States military-industrial complex and that the US government had access to data generated through ride-hailing and other technology platforms. He also suggested that a Palantir subsidiary in Abuja had replaced Uber.

However, the intelligence allegations have not been independently verified. No supporting contract, court filing, leaked communication or on-record source has been publicly established in the reporting reviewed. Uber has not publicly confirmed the CIA or intelligence-contract allegations.

Uber announced that it would cease operations in Nigeria effective September 2, 2026, marking the end of its 12-year presence in the country. The company said the decision followed a review of its business operations but did not disclose further details about the reasons for the exit.

The company’s departure has renewed attention on the business challenges facing ride-hailing platforms in Nigeria, including rising fuel costs, inflation, currency volatility and increasing competition.

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Beyond the allegation itself, the controversy raises questions about the amount of personal data collected by foreign technology platforms operating in Nigeria, how such information is stored and transferred, and what safeguards exist to protect users.

For now, Hundeyin’s claim that Uber’s Nigerian operations were linked to a US intelligence contract remains an allegation. Further documentary evidence and a response from Uber would be needed to establish whether the claim is true.

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