The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced the resolution of its operational issues with Bolt, clearing the e-hailing company to resume services at FAAN-managed airports with immediate effect.
The development followed what the Authority described as constructive engagements aimed at establishing an agreeable and sustainable operational framework for e-hailing services within the airport environment.
According to FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire on Thursday, the Authority had been working for nearly a decade to address challenges associated with commercial and e-hailing vehicles at airports, including passenger solicitation, touting, unregulated operations and random pick-ups.
Agbebire said the challenges had also raised safety, security and accountability concerns, particularly as some drivers operate across more than one e-hailing platform.
He explained that FAAN introduced the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS) to provide greater structure, visibility and accountability for authorised airport car-hire operations.
“ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and was never conceived as a competitor to Uber, Bolt or any other mobility platform,” Agbebire said.
According to him, ACHRAMS was designed solely to manage airport car-hire ranks and authorised operations, stressing that FAAN supports healthy competition and has no intention of creating or promoting a monopoly in airport transportation.
The Authority also clarified concerns surrounding airport taxi fares, saying the rates highlighted during the recent controversy were not newly imposed by FAAN or introduced by ACHRAMS.
Agbebire said the fares had existed independently of the system, adding that ACHRAMS merely provided greater visibility and transparency around prevailing airport taxi rates.
He acknowledged that the comparison between the airport taxi fares and the lower prices passengers had become accustomed to through e-hailing platforms had heightened concerns during the temporary disruption of services.
FAAN expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to passengers during the period, saying it recognised the impact of the disruption despite the regulatory, safety and security considerations that informed its actions.
The Authority said the resolution with Bolt demonstrated that airport security and operational integrity could be maintained while preserving passengers’ convenience and freedom of choice.
FAAN added that it remained engaged with other e-hailing operators and expressed confidence that outstanding discussions would be concluded in the coming days.
The Authority reiterated that passengers were free to choose from available transportation options that best met their needs, while stressing that all authorised services operating within the airport environment must meet required safety, security, orderliness and accountability standards.
FAAN thanked passengers for their patience and understanding, assuring them that their safety, security, convenience and overall airport experience remained central to its decisions.
