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Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

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Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#91

Post by konimex »

itake wrote: post #80
brazukadev wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lovely. That's tech creating good jobs. I hope Uber leave my country too.

Bolt lost their license in Thailand due to poor safety tech after a Bolt driver (that borrowed another account, didn't have a license) attempted to kidnap a school girl [0]. Bolt creates 'good' jobs for criminals, but I don't think that is what we want. [0] - https://www.khaosodenglish.com/tech/2026/05/12/bolt-tightens...

Is Bolt a "new player" in Thailand? I know that in Indonesia both Maxim and inDrive is not that well-regarded because usually drivers that ride for both are drivers that are banned from Gojek and Grab for various reasons.

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#92

Post by tristanj »

deaux wrote: post #90
tristanj wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm fully aware that Lyft, Careem, and Kakao T are on my list. But that doesn't change the fact that in every region I've been to, Uber is always the most expensive option. Or it's tied for the highest price, in duopoly markets like the US/Canada. The competitors inDrive, Bolt, or Yango almost always beat Uber on price.

This too isn't true. Most of the services you listed only operate in one (or at most a small few) countries. I know for a fact that in some of them, Uber is not the highest price. Instead, in some of them, Uber and the ones you listed are tied for the lowest price, with other local apps being more expensive. You're misinforming here, giving bold statements based on not spending enough time in some of these countries,…

You didn't actually name any of the countries or local apps you're referring to. What are they?

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#94

Post by DarmokTanagra »

chermi wrote: post #21
tristanj wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In developing countries, the taxi market is largely unregulated and Uber faces actual competition. Uber cannot compete on price in these regions.

Does no one have any memory of what taxis were like and how much they cost? The taxis are gone because they weren't competitive.

[dead]

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#95

Post by timothymwiti »

tristanj wrote: post #30
blovescoffee wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One anecdote for a datapoint: Not sure if it's better now but I've lost a phone in an InDrive and I've lost an expensive bag in an Uber and it was significantly easier and less sketchy to get the bag back. I'm not a price sensitive rider so the insurance of a reputable 'comfort' tier Uber driver paid off. The InDrive driver made me get another ride to him then demanded $1000mxn (~$55usd) to return my phone. The Uber…

I have a controversial take: outside the US/Europe, Uber is mostly a tourist app. If you actually live in developing regions: 1) your income is much lower, and you are quite price sensitive. The Uber price premium (20-40%) hits much harder. 2) the Uber alternatives are noticeably cheaper for the exact same trip. Regarding your experience, if you were local, that inDrive driver likely would not have tried to extort $1…

In Kenya it’s not just a tourist app. Very popular and well priced here.

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#97

Post by esseph »

esseph wrote: post #62

US SOCOM also just pulled out of Nigeria. The rumor is that this is becoming politically sensitive, so the US DoW is turning things over to none other than Erik Prince (Blackwater, Xe, etc). Nigeria is an important source of minerals, for example: lithium. Africa is being hotly contested right now between ISIS, the US / West, China, and state-local political factions.

Followup:

The PMCs that Erik Prince has are primarily doing oilfield and oil worker protection in places like Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Same for mining facilities.

https://www.upstreamonline.com/exclusive/blackwater-founder-...

https://www.theafricareport.com/381915/erik-prince-returns-t...

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#98

Post by esseph »

Robotbeat wrote: post #66
esseph wrote: post #62

US SOCOM also just pulled out of Nigeria. The rumor is that this is becoming politically sensitive, so the US DoW is turning things over to none other than Erik Prince (Blackwater, Xe, etc). Nigeria is an important source of minerals, for example: lithium. Africa is being hotly contested right now between ISIS, the US / West, China, and state-local political factions.

In Nigeria: Lithium totally irrelevant compared to oil. I think people have this really weird idea that lithium is to electric cars as oil is to regular cars, but it’s literally like a factor of 50 less.

Datacenters need batteries too, and they're drawing a BUNCH of power these days. 1 rack can now easily use as much power as 100 US homes (120kw), with some rack designs pushing to 200 and 300kw.

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#99

Post by esseph »

Robotbeat wrote: post #66
esseph wrote: post #62

US SOCOM also just pulled out of Nigeria. The rumor is that this is becoming politically sensitive, so the US DoW is turning things over to none other than Erik Prince (Blackwater, Xe, etc). Nigeria is an important source of minerals, for example: lithium. Africa is being hotly contested right now between ISIS, the US / West, China, and state-local political factions.

In Nigeria: Lithium totally irrelevant compared to oil. I think people have this really weird idea that lithium is to electric cars as oil is to regular cars, but it’s literally like a factor of 50 less.

https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/china-africa-and-the-...

China is on track to control around 81% of global spodumene refinery production by 2027.

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#100

Post by omcnoe »

tristanj wrote: post #11
swimminglala88 wrote: post #5

why they do that

In developing countries, the taxi market is largely unregulated and Uber faces actual competition. Uber cannot compete on price in these regions.

Also, these are generally cash economies. Drivers use Uber to get leads but will then negotiate the actual ride off-platform stripping Uber of their cut.
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