On Thursday, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said the ride-hailing service Bolt may resume operations at its airports immediately.

According to the Airports Authority, the decision follows an agreement between the two parties after a dispute that temporarily disrupted service and led to passenger complaints.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, in a press statement made available to newsmen, explained that the conflict originated from nearly ten years of efforts to address concerns related to safety, security, and accountability for commercial and e-hailing vehicles at the airports.

The issues cited include unregulated pickups and drivers soliciting passengers, some of whom operate across multiple platforms concurrently.

FAAN also denied claims that it controls fare prices, asserting that fare structures have always been independent of its authority.

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“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused to our passengers,” Agbebire stated, adding that FAAN had “listened, reflected, and made the necessary adjustments.”

The authority noted that these concerns led to the implementation of ACHRAMS, an airport car-hire management system that is not an e-hailing app and does not compete with platforms like Bolt or Uber.

FAAN addressed criticism regarding airport taxi fares, clarifying that the rates discussed publicly were neither newly introduced nor set by FAAN. Instead, fares have remained consistent with prior pricing, with the system simply making these prices more visible to passengers.

This transparency has drawn scrutiny, especially when compared to the lower prices often associated with e-hailing services.

The agency also mentioned ongoing discussions with other e-hailing providers, expecting these negotiations to conclude in the coming days, though it did not specify which platforms remain involved.

FAAN emphasised that its actions are driven by regulatory and security considerations rather than commercial motives and reiterated that it does not seek to establish a monopoly on airport transportation.

Finally, the authority apologised for the inconvenience caused by the service disruption and expressed appreciation for passengers’ patience and understanding.

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