Uber launches in two new African cities, now in 400 locations globally

On-demand transportation service Uber has today launched in two new locations, Abuja, Nigeria, and Mombasa, Kenya. This brings the company’s global network to 400 cities in 70 countries.

The service had previously launched in Lagos, Nigeria in 2015, but is only now coming to Nigeria’s capital city.

“We’re really excited to be launching Uber in these two great African cities, providing locals and visitors with a safe, affordable and flexible choice to move around their city,” said general manager of Uber SSA, Alon Lits, in a press release.

Operations manager for Uber Kenya, Kagure Wamunyu said: “Uber is a new and exciting platform that is changing the way Kenyans move around their cities and we are shaping the future of cities across the world. Mombasa is a cultural and economic hub as well as a popular tourist destination that has a need for safe, reliable and efficient transportation and we are so excited to be launching here.”

Read more: Uber basks in phenomenal SA growth

Besides expanding its geographical reach, Uber has also been launching new features for its users. The launch of UberEATS allows users to order food from local restaurants, though it’s currently only available in select US cities.

It also allows users in select areas to set up a Family Profile for organising rides and sharing payment for friends, family, or co-workers.

In 2013, the company was valued at US$3.5-billion and has grown to US$40-billion since then.