The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is facing mounting criticism over the cost of its newly introduced airport car-hire service after a viral video showed a passenger being quoted N30,000 for a trip from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to Ikeja.

Controversy erupted after travel content creator Chris Joondeph, popularly known as “Authentic Traveling”, shared his experience at the Lagos airport on TikTok, saying he was shocked when an airport car-hire operator quoted N30,000 for a ride to the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja.

He said the car operator said, “Radisson, that’s in GRA Ikeja. It’s just N30,000.” Joondeph responded, “It costs N30,000 to Ikeja, when it normally used to cost me at most N8,000. Me, I sabi. I won’t be paying that.”

He eventually walked outside the airport and ordered an alternative ride-hailing service. “I am here outside of this hotel called Blue Lodge Hotel. I just ordered an inDrive, which was the first one to come. So he’s a couple of minutes away, and it is N6,100 that I’m going to pay to get home,” he said.

A comparison of fares showed a shocking disparity, and this has caused discussions among social media users.

One of our correspondents gathered that ACHRAMS, the airport’s new car-hire platform, lists journeys from the airport to the city centre at between N10,000 and N20,000, while trips to suburbs range from N20,000 to N30,000. Inter-state journeys are priced between N30,000 and N60,000.

For the same airport-to-Radisson Blu journey, Bolt listed N6,900, while Uber showed N4,200 for UberX and N5,800 for its Priority option. From discussions with different airport users, it was clear that prices on the new app are higher than those of the other e-hailing services available to passengers.

An X user, #Captainbee, described the fare as “exploitation”, while Aziegen (Igba Aje) questioned how a relatively short journey from the airport to Ikeja GRA could attract such a charge.

“How can a taxi ride from Murtala Muhammed International Airport to Radisson Hotel in Ikeja GRA, a journey of roughly 4-9 km depending on the route, typically less than 20 minutes, cost N30,000?” the user asked.

Another user, #abidemi_rufai, called the fare “a rip-off”, writing: “This is a rip-off and I wonder why FAAN would ban UBER from operating inside the airport and collaborate with an operator that would charge N30,000 from the airport to Radisson Blu Ikeja. UBER would charge between N6,000 and N8,000 for the same trip.”

On TikTok, Yinkaku questioned whether the pricing could be sustained, saying, “FAAN will eventually have to use their apps by themselves, coz that pricing is not even realistic.”

Weeks back, FAAN introduced ACHRAMS with claims of efforts to achieve passenger security and comfort, among others. Immediately after the new app launch, FAAN banned other e-hailing drivers from plying the airport, a development the authority tagged temporary.

The pushback started from cab drivers within the airport, calling a meeting with FAAN over shortcomings they have observed in the operationality of the new app. FAAN later, however, denied imposing a blanket ban on Uber, Bolt or other e-hailing platforms, saying it is engaging the companies on compliant operations within airport premises.

The authority said ACHRAMS was introduced to regulate airport car-hire operations and was “not intended to compete with or replicate the services provided by Uber, Bolt or any other e-hailing platform.”

Stakeholders lambast FAAN

But industry stakeholders say the issue goes beyond the price of a taxi ride. Former Rector of the Nigeria College of Aviation, Samuel Caulcrick, questioned the role of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, asking who protects passengers when public institutions are perceived to be favouring their own commercial interests.

Caulcrick argued that the controversy reflected a wider competition issue, invoking the historical development of antitrust principles. He said, “Where is our FCCPC? If an organisation can ban Uber and Bolt to favour its own interests, ignoring the passengers who sustain the entire aviation industry, then who safeguards the public interest?

“This isn’t a new issue. Modern antitrust and competition laws were designed precisely to prevent this: private entities prioritising privilege over the common good.”

He cited the Le Chapelier Law of 1791, saying its underlying principle was that “only individual rights and the general interest should prevail. No intermediary body should be able to hold the public hostage. “So where is our FCCPC when corporate bodies ignore the public interest for private gain?”

Another industry expert, John Ojikutu, was even more direct, arguing that FAAN should not be operating commercial buses or cabs in competition with private operators. He accused the authority of failing to focus on its core responsibilities while pursuing revenue-generating activities.

He said, “FAAN, a government public agency, has no business in commercial businesses. FAAN should be concessioned in accordance with the 2000 Act on Privatisation, Commercialisation and Concession.

“For over 25 years, FAAN has been draining pipelines for the political office holders to be sucking generated revenues of the government. Tell me, what does a public agency have to compete on public transportation with private businesses?”

Ojikutu also noted efforts to improve passenger movement between the airport terminals. He recalled, “Five years ago, the British Consulate Officer in Lagos advised that shuttle buses be provided for airport passengers moving from the domestic terminals to the international terminals. I tried doing that but was frustrated by the blue cars union in the airport and FAAN Commercial Services Department.”

Efforts to get the spokesperson of FAAN, Henry Agbebire, were unsuccessful as he neither picked up his call nor responded to messages sent for enquiry over the development.