Nollywood filmmaker Niyi Akinmolayan has fired a sharp jab at Nigerians following Uber’s sudden decision to shut down operations in the country.
In a post that quickly gained traction, the director wrote: “That thing you people did to filmmakers when Prime left and Netflix cut investment, are you now going to blame drivers for Uber leaving?”
Akinmolayan was reacting to the wave of public criticism that trailed Amazon Prime Video’s reduced investment and Netflix’s scaled-back activities in Nigeria. At the time, many online commentators accused filmmakers of mismanaging funds and “wasting” the opportunities offered by the streamers.
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Uber announced it would wind down its Nigerian operations with effect from September 2, 2026, ending a 12-year presence that began in Lagos in 2014. The company said the decision followed a thorough review of its business, without giving detailed reasons. The exit comes amid a wider global restructuring by the ride-hailing giant.
Akinmolayan, known for hits such as Chief Daddy, Prophetess and Lisabi: The Uprising, has previously argued that economic factors, particularly the devaluation of the naira, made the Nigerian market less attractive for international platforms.
The filmmaker’s comment has sparked fresh debate online, with many agreeing that the tendency to quickly blame local players whenever foreign companies leave is both unfair and unhelpful.
Uber said its help centre would remain open until September 23 to handle outstanding issues for drivers and riders.
