Nigeria, Sept. 13 -- Nigeria has spent years telling the world that its population is its greatest economic advantage. More than 200 million people, a huge and youthful consumer market, rapidly growing cities and an endless list of needs waiting to be met. It is the kind of pitch that makes Nigeria sound impossible for serious businesses to ignore.



Uber has just given us a reason to look at that story a little differently.



After 12 years in Nigeria, the ride-hailing company has shut down its operations in the country. For a business whose fortunes depended on Nigerians moving around Nigerian cities, that is not a small development. And it is certainly not because Nigerians suddenly stopped needing rides. Lagos is still Lagos. Abu...