TMSG Faults ADC Reaction To Uber Exit, Says Party Misread Situation

The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has faulted the reaction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to Uber’s decision to leave Nigeria, saying the party misread the circumstances surrounding the development.

TMSG said Uber had clearly attributed its exit from Nigeria and Uganda to a global restructuring exercise that involved about 3,300 job losses worldwide.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group accused the ADC of turning a corporate decision into an attack on the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The group said the party’s reaction showed a failure to properly examine the reasons given by the company before drawing political conclusions.

TMSG argued that anyone familiar with Uber’s global restructuring would have understood that the Nigerian exit formed part of a wider business decision.

It also recalled that Uber had previously withdrawn from Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire, saying those developments further weakened the ADC’s attempt to link its Nigerian exit solely to domestic economic policies.

According to the group, the situation would have raised greater concern if Uber had blamed Nigeria’s economy or government policies for its departure.

It noted that other ride-hailing companies remained active in Nigeria and had expressed their readiness to serve customers who might be affected by Uber’s withdrawal.

TMSG said the ADC should have considered these developments before presenting the company’s exit as evidence of an unfavourable business environment under the Tinubu administration.

The group also challenged the ADC’s description of Nigeria as a “graveyard of businesses”, citing Uber’s continued interest in the Nigerian market through its investment in another sector.

It noted that Uber had acquired a major stake in Spanish delivery company Glovo, which has identified Nigeria as its fastest-growing market globally.

TMSG said Glovo had paid its Nigerian partners N71 billion over three years, describing the figure as an indication of the opportunities available within 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,” the group said.

It argued that Uber’s investment in a business with a significant Nigerian footprint contradicted the ADC’s portrayal of the country as hostile to businesses.

TMSG also pointed to the return of Okin biscuits after a 17-year shutdown of its factory as another indication of renewed commercial activity.

The group said the development showed that businesses could still identify opportunities in Nigeria despite the economic difficulties confronting the country.

TMSG therefore accused the ADC of rushing to use Uber’s decision for political criticism without adequately considering the facts.

“If they were in touch with the reality of ride hailing in the country, they would have better understood the situation,” the group said.

It maintained that the withdrawal of a company from one business line should not automatically translate into a verdict on the country’s entire economy.

The group urged political parties to distinguish between global corporate restructuring and decisions directly linked to domestic economic policies.

TMSG said the ADC, as a political organisation seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress, should offer Nigerians informed analysis rather than politicise corporate developments.