Any Nigerian who has been monitoring the political scene in recent months would have accurately predicted that a rudderless party like the African Democratic Congress (ADC) would jump on Uber’s exit to mock the ruling All Progressives Congress
By Moses Okorie
The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its reaction to Uber’s decision to discontinue its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria, describing the party’s position as “ignorant and embarrassing.”
TMSG said Uber had clearly stated that its decision to leave Nigeria and Uganda was part of a broader global restructuring exercise and was not linked to the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu administration.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group accused the ADC of deliberately exploiting the development to advance what it described as a negative political narrative against the Federal Government.
According to TMSG, the ADC’s interpretation of Uber’s exit was another example of the party’s alleged eagerness to criticise the administration without considering the facts surrounding the company’s decision.
“Any Nigerian who has been monitoring the political scene in recent months would have accurately predicted that a rudderless party like the African Democratic Congress (ADC) would jump on Uber’s exit to mock the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC),” the group said.
TMSG recalled that the ADC had, following the Osun governorship election, claimed to have worked with Governor Ademola Adeleke to defeat the APC, describing the claim as another example of what it called the party’s political opportunism.
The group maintained that Uber’s explanation for leaving Nigeria and Uganda was clear, noting that the company’s global restructuring reportedly involved the loss of about 3,300 jobs worldwide.
It therefore faulted the ADC for attributing the company’s decision to the economic policies of the Tinubu administration.
“Like they have done severally, ADC and its media handlers have proved to be out of touch with reality. This may be because these people are not fully on ground or that they are too much in a haste to attack President Tinubu,” TMSG said.
The group further argued that a proper understanding of the Nigerian ride-hailing sector would have shown that Uber had previously experienced challenges with its operations and riders in the country.
It said it would have been more concerning if Uber had specifically blamed the Nigerian economy or government policies for its withdrawal, as such an explanation could have created fears that other ride-hailing companies might follow suit.
TMSG noted, however, that other operators in the sector remained committed to the Nigerian market and had expressed confidence in their ability to meet the needs of customers.
The group also pointed out that Uber’s withdrawal from Nigeria and Uganda was not an isolated development, recalling that the company had previously exited Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire.
It said Uber’s continued investment in businesses connected to the Nigerian market further undermined the ADC’s interpretation of its exit from the ride-hailing sector.
TMSG cited Uber’s acquisition of a major stake in Spanish startup Glovo, which it said has identified Nigeria as its fastest-growing market globally.
The group also highlighted Glovo’s reported payment of N71 billion to its Nigerian partners over a three-year period, describing the figure as an indication of the opportunities available in the Nigerian market.
“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,” TMSG said.
The group argued that these developments contradicted the ADC’s description of Nigeria as a “graveyard of businesses,” stressing that Uber’s decision to exit one line of business while expanding its investment in another demonstrated the complexity of the business environment.
TMSG also cited the reported return of Okin, a popular Nigerian biscuit brand, which it said was restarting operations after a 17-year shutdown of its factory.
It maintained that the development was further evidence that businesses could still find opportunities for growth and investment in Nigeria despite the country’s economic challenges.
The group consequently accused the ADC of playing politics with a commercial decision that, in its view, was driven by Uber’s global corporate strategy rather than Nigeria’s domestic economic policies.
“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.