The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced that Bolt can resume operations at all airports managed by the authority after both parties reached an agreement on an operational framework.
FAAN also apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the temporary suspension of e-hailing services, acknowledging concerns over the increased transportation costs and difficulties experienced during the disruption.
In a statement, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, explained that the authority’s actions were driven by regulatory, safety and security concerns and not by an attempt to control transportation fares or restrict competition.
According to the statement, FAAN has, for nearly a decade, been addressing challenges associated with commercial and e-hailing vehicles operating within airport environments.
The authority said the challenges included passenger solicitation, touting, unregulated operations, random pick-ups and concerns relating to safety, security and accountability.
FAAN said some drivers also operate across multiple e-hailing platforms, making it necessary for the authority to strengthen the monitoring and management of commercial transportation activities within airports.
It explained that this led to the introduction of the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS), a queue and airport transportation management system designed to improve structure, visibility and accountability among authorised airport car-hire operators.
FAAN stressed that ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and was not created to compete with Bolt, Uber or other mobility platforms.
The authority said the system is limited to managing airport car-hire ranks and the authorised operations connected to them.
“FAAN supports healthy competition and does not seek to create or promote a monopoly in airport transportation,” the statement said.
The authority also clarified that the airport taxi fares that generated public concern were not newly imposed by FAAN or introduced through ACHRAMS.
According to FAAN, airport taxi fares had existed independently of the system, while the rates were not substantially different from those previously applicable.
It said ACHRAMS only provided greater visibility and transparency around existing airport taxi fares, allowing passengers to see the applicable charges more clearly.
FAAN, however, acknowledged that passengers’ comparison of the airport taxi fares with the lower prices they had become accustomed to through e-hailing platforms contributed to the concerns surrounding the disruption.
The authority said it understood the frustration caused by the temporary interruption of e-hailing services and apologised to passengers who experienced higher transportation costs and inconvenience.
“While the authority’s actions were driven by regulatory, safety and security considerations rather than economic interests, FAAN acknowledges that the immediate impact on passengers was significant,” it stated.
FAAN said it had listened to the concerns raised by the public, reviewed the situation and made the necessary adjustments.
The authority subsequently announced that, following constructive engagements, it and Bolt had reached an agreeable operational framework, clearing the company to immediately resume its services at FAAN-managed airports.
FAAN said the agreement showed that airport security and regulatory requirements could be maintained without taking away the convenience and freedom of choice offered by e-hailing services.
The authority added that discussions with other e-hailing operators were ongoing and expressed confidence that the outstanding engagements would be concluded in the coming days.
FAAN reiterated that passengers are free to choose from available transportation options that best suit their needs, while the authority’s responsibility is to ensure that authorised transportation services operating within airports are safe, secure, orderly and accountable.
The authority thanked passengers for their patience and understanding, assuring them that their safety, security, convenience and overall airport experience remain central to its decisions.
