Moove Exits Nigeria After Uber’s Departure: 5 Things to Know

Moove exits Nigeria after six years, bringing an end to its operations in the country where it was founded. The mobility company has also announced plans to transfer vehicles worth about ₦35 billion to eligible customers at no extra cost.

The announcement came on Thursday, October 8, 2026. It followed Uber’s withdrawal from Nigeria, which had a significant effect on Moove’s business model.

Moove was founded in Lagos in 2020 by Ladi Delano and Jide Odunsi. The company provided vehicles to drivers who wanted to earn money through ride-hailing and other mobility services but lacked the funds to buy cars.

Its exit marks another major development in Nigeria’s mobility sector. However, the company says its departure will not leave eligible customers without the vehicles they have been using to earn a living.

1. Why Moove exits Nigeria after six years

Moove’s decision to leave Nigeria is closely linked to Uber’s departure from the country.

In an interview with BusinessDay, Moove co-founder and co-CEO Ladi Delano explained that Uber had been the principal platform supporting the company’s Nigerian business model at scale.

According to Delano, Uber’s withdrawal changed the operating environment for Moove. The company reviewed its available options but concluded that it could no longer sustain its Nigerian operations.

He said the company had assessed the alternatives and the financial realities of continuing in the market before making its decision.

The explanation provides a clearer picture of the circumstances behind Moove’s exit. Although the company did not focus on the reasons in its initial announcement, Delano’s interview identified Uber’s departure as a major factor.

Moove’s exit comes only weeks after Uber ended its operations in Nigeria. The developments have raised fresh questions about the future of ride-hailing and vehicle-financing businesses in the country.

2. Moove will transfer ₦35 billion worth of vehicles

One of the biggest parts of Moove’s exit plan is the transfer of vehicles to existing customers.

The company said eligible customers would receive full ownership of vehicles valued at approximately ₦35 billion.

Under the arrangement, customers will not have to make further payments to Moove for the vehicles themselves. The transfer is effective from October 1, 2026, according to the company’s announcement.

The initiative is called Thank You Nigeria. Moove said it introduced the programme to recognise the customers, employees, partners and communities that supported its growth.

However, the transfer applies to eligible vehicles and customers. It should not be understood as a promise that every person who has used Moove’s services will receive a car.

In an interview with BusinessDay, Delano explained that eligible customers must settle outstanding remittances up to October 1, 2026, and complete the required transfer process.

Moove said it would work directly with affected customers to complete the arrangements.

The company has therefore linked the ownership transfer to its exit process, allowing qualifying drivers to retain the vehicles they currently operate.

3. Moove will also give free cars to Nigerian staff

Customers are not the only people who will benefit from Moove’s exit arrangement.

The company also announced that all its Nigerian staff members would receive a free car as a gesture of appreciation.

Moove said the decision was part of its Thank You Nigeria initiative. The programme recognises the people who helped build the business from its early days in Lagos.

The company described the exit as an emotional moment. Its founders also acknowledged the contributions of employees who helped turn a local startup into an international mobility business.

Moove has not presented the initiative as a reason for leaving Nigeria. Instead, the vehicle transfers and staff benefits form part of how it intends to conclude its local operations.

The company said it would work with affected employees to complete the necessary arrangements.

4. How Moove grew from 76 vehicles to a global business

Moove began operations in Lagos in 2020 with 76 vehicles.

Delano and Odunsi founded the company after identifying a problem facing many aspiring mobility entrepreneurs. Some drivers wanted to earn money through driving but could not afford the vehicles needed to get started.

Moove developed a rental and Drive-to-Own model to address that problem.

The model gave drivers access to vehicles through the company. The Drive-to-Own option also offered a route towards vehicle ownership.

Over time, the business expanded beyond Nigeria. Moove now operates a reported 42,000 vehicles across 29 cities globally.

In Nigeria alone, more than 9,000 customers have used its rental and Drive-to-Own products, according to figures released by the company.

Moove also said customers generated approximately ₦57 billion in revenue through vehicles financed by the business.

These figures show the scale of the company’s Nigerian operations before its planned exit. They also highlight the role its vehicles played in supporting the livelihoods of drivers and their families.

Nigeria’s importance to Moove goes beyond being one of its markets. Lagos was where the founders started the company and developed the model that supported its international expansion.

5. What Moove’s exit means for Nigerian drivers

Moove’s departure ends its vehicle-financing operations in Nigeria, but the company says eligible customers will retain the vehicles they currently use.

For qualifying drivers, full ownership could provide greater control over their vehicles. It could also remove the need to continue making payments to Moove for the vehicles themselves under the announced arrangement.

However, customers must still confirm whether they qualify and complete the transfer process. Those with outstanding remittances up to the stated cutoff date must also meet the company’s requirements.

Drivers should therefore wait for direct communication from Moove about their eligibility, outstanding obligations and the documents needed to complete ownership transfers.

The wider impact of the exit will depend partly on what happens next in Nigeria’s ride-hailing market. Moove’s explanation shows how closely its local model depended on Uber, while the departure of both companies raises questions about the options available to drivers who rely on such platforms for income.

Moove has not said that it is ending its global operations. Its announcement concerns its Nigerian business, while the company continues to operate internationally.

For a business that began with 76 vehicles in Lagos, the exit marks the end of a six-year chapter in its home market. The transfer of vehicles worth about ₦35 billion is intended to recognise the customers who helped build that business.

As Moove concludes its Nigerian operations, the immediate priority for eligible customers and employees will be completing the promised transfers.

The company’s exit also highlights a challenge for mobility businesses that depend heavily on a single platform. When that platform leaves a market, the effects can extend beyond ride-hailing to companies that provide the vehicles drivers need to work.