Ride-hailing company Uber contributed an estimated N34 billion to Nigeria’s economy in 2023, according to a new economic impact report unveiled in Lagos on Monday.
The Uber Nigeria Economic Impact Report, conducted by research firm Public First, was presented at the Lagos Road Mobility Summit, co-hosted by Uber and the Lagos State Ministry of Transport under the theme “Reimagining an Inclusive Road Safety Strategy.”
The report credited Uber with providing economic, social and safety benefits for both drivers and riders. It estimated that riders enjoyed a consumer surplus of nearly N500 billion through savings in time, cost and convenience.
Deepesh Thomas, Uber’s General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, said the platform created value beyond direct economic impact, noting that drivers earned N6.1 billion more in 2023 compared to their next best alternatives, with average earnings 34 percent higher.
Flexibility was also identified as a key benefit. The report valued this at N6.3 billion, with 88 percent of drivers saying the ability to choose working hours helped them balance family responsibilities.
On safety, 97 percent of riders cited it as their main reason for using Uber, with 78 percent of women saying it was the safest way to get home at night. The service was also linked to reducing drunk driving, with 79 percent of riders acknowledging it offered a reliable alternative late at night.
The study highlighted Uber’s wider ripple effects, including nearly N930 million generated for the nighttime economy and N5.4 billion added to Nigeria’s tourism sector. Riders were also estimated to have saved 1.8 million hours last year.
The summit featured officials from the Lagos State Ministry of Transport, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the World Bank’s SSATP programme, and other stakeholders, who stressed the importance of public-private collaboration in addressing Nigeria’s road safety challenges.
