The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that it has not banned e-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt from operating at Nigerian airports.
In a statement issued on Thursday, FAAN said recent reports and public discussions about the operations of e-hailing services at some airports had created misconceptions about its position.
The authority said its actions were not intended to restrict passengers’ access to transportation or undermine the convenience provided by e-hailing platforms.
Instead, FAAN said its responsibility was to ensure that commercial transportation activities within airport premises meet the required safety, security, accountability and passenger-experience standards.
“The current situation should therefore not be misconstrued as FAAN declaring a blanket prohibition on e-hailing services.”
FAAN explained that airports are highly regulated environments, meaning commercial transport operators must operate under a framework that gives the authority adequate visibility over their vehicles, drivers and activities.
The authority said this is necessary to ensure that drivers providing transportation services within airports are identifiable and accountable, while also allowing effective coordination during security or passenger-related incidents.
FAAN Clarifies ACHRAMS
FAAN also addressed what it described as a misconception surrounding its Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS).
The agency introduced ACHRAMS in June to improve operational efficiency, increase revenue generation, reduce loitering around airport arrival areas and make access to car hire services more seamless.
FAAN stressed that ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and was not created to compete with or replicate services offered by Uber, Bolt or other e-hailing platforms.
According to the authority, the system was primarily designed to provide operational visibility and tracking within airport premises and facilitate the accountable management of applicable concession and related airport charges.
FAAN said it had also received complaints and observed challenges involving commercial transportation activities around airports, including passenger solicitation and touting.
The authority said these concerns made it necessary to establish a clear framework for managing commercial transportation within the airport environment.
FAAN, Operators in Discussions
FAAN said it had been engaging Uber, Bolt and other relevant e-hailing operators to develop a mutually workable operational framework that recognises the value of their services while addressing airport-specific safety, security and accountability requirements.
The authority said the ongoing discussions are focused particularly on passenger safety and security, operational visibility, accountability and the management of pick-up activities at airports.
“FAAN remains confident that a mutually acceptable understanding will be reached shortly.”
The authority acknowledged the convenience that e-hailing platforms provide to passengers and said it was aware of concerns over possible inconvenience while the issues are being resolved.
FAAN reiterated that its objective is to maintain a safe, secure, orderly and seamless airport environment while ensuring passengers continue to have convenient transportation options.
Source: Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)
