The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) has lifted its ban on e-haliing platform, Bolt after BusinessDay’s report.
In a statement by Henry Agbebire,
Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection on Thursday, he stated that following constructive engagements, FAAN and Bolt have reached an agreeable operational framework and Bolt is cleared to commence its services at FAAN-managed airports immediately.
According to Agbebire, the resolution demonstrates that it is possible to protect the integrity and security of the airport environment while preserving the convenience and freedom of choice that e-hailing services provide to passengers.
He said FAAN remains engaged with other e-hailing operators and is confident that the outstanding discussions will be concluded in the coming days.
“FAAN reiterates that passengers remain free to choose from available transportation options that best meet their needs. Our responsibility is to ensure that whichever authorised service they choose operates within a safe, secure, orderly and accountable airport environment,” the statement reads.
BusinessDay had reported that a major transport disruption had commenced after an internal FAAN directive dated July 30, signed by U.R. Liman, General Manager of Commercial Services, ordering an immediate halt to all Uber and Bolt operations pending the execution of formal concession licenses.
According to the directive, commercial activities for both platforms must remain suspended across all FAAN-managed airports until licensing negotiations and operational agreements are fully finalized.
Air passengers who arrived at Nigeria’s major international gateways had faced severe logistical crisis and skyrocketing ground transportation costs following the decision.
Alongside the commercial suspension, FAAN introduced strict vehicle age limits and mandated registration through its newly developed digital platform, the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS).
Agbebire had noted that for nearly a decade, FAAN has been working to address challenges arising from the activities of commercial and e-hailing vehicles within the airport environment, including increasing cases of passenger solicitation and touting, unregulated operations, random pick-ups, and associated safety, security and accountability concerns.
These challenges, which in some instances involve drivers operating across more than one platform, he said made it necessary for the authority to strengthen the management and visibility of commercial transportation within the airport.
According to him, it was in response to these concerns that FAAN introduced ACHRAMS, a queue-management and airport transportation management system designed to bring greater structure, visibility and accountability to the operations of authorised airport car-hire services.
“ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and was never conceived as a competitor to Uber, Bolt or any other mobility platform. Its function is limited to the management of airport car-hire ranks and the authorised operations associated with them.
“FAAN supports healthy competition and does not seek to create or promote a monopoly in airport transportation.
It is also important to clarify that the fares highlighted in some of the recent public discussions were not rates newly imposed by FAAN or created by ACHRAMS. Airport taxi fares have existed independently of the application, and the rates themselves were not substantially different from those previously applicable,” he explained.
The FAAN director stated that what ACHRAMS introduced was greater visibility and transparency around the prevailing airport-taxi rates, making the cost more readily apparent to passengers, adding that FAAN recognises, however, that the comparison with the lower fares passengers had become accustomed to through e-hailing platforms understandably heightened public concern.
“FAAN is aware of and deeply appreciates the concerns expressed by passengers over the increased cost and inconvenience experienced during the temporary interruption of e-hailing services.
“We sincerely apologise for the difficulties this caused our passengers,” he said.
He reiterated that 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.
“We have listened, reflected and made the necessary adjustments,” he said.
Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.
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