BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said it is not banning e-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt from operating at Nigerian airports, saying its priority is to ensure passenger safety, security and smooth movement within airport premises.
The clarification followed recent reports and public concerns over the operations of e-hailing companies at some Nigerian airports.
In a statement issued on Thursday, FAAN said its position was not aimed at restricting passengers’ access to transportation options or undermining the convenience provided by e-hailing platforms.
The Authority explained that airports are highly regulated environments, requiring all commercial transport operators working within their premises to operate under a framework that allows FAAN to identify and monitor their vehicles and drivers.
It said such arrangements were necessary to ensure that transportation providers could be held accountable and effectively coordinated during security or passenger-related incidents.
According to FAAN, the large number of people moving through airports daily makes it important for commercial transport operators to be properly integrated into the airport’s security and operational system.
The Authority also clarified the role of its ACHRAMS platform, following what it described as a misconception that the system was designed to compete with Uber, Bolt or other e-hailing companies.
FAAN said ACHRAMS was not an e-hailing application and was not intended to provide services similar to those offered by commercial ride-hailing platforms.
Instead, the Authority said the platform was developed mainly to provide operational visibility and tracking within airport premises, while helping to manage applicable concession and related airport charges.
FAAN said it had also received complaints and observed challenges linked to commercial transport activities around airports, including passenger solicitation and touting.
The Authority said these issues had made it necessary to establish a clear framework for managing commercial transportation services within airport premises.
It noted that it had been engaging e-hailing operators to find a workable arrangement that would allow them to continue serving passengers while meeting airport safety, security and operational requirements.
FAAN stressed that the current situation should not be interpreted as a blanket ban on e-hailing services.
“Rather, it is part of an ongoing process of operational alignment with the objective of ensuring that e-hailing services can continue to serve passengers within a framework that meets the requirements of the airport,” the Authority said.
It acknowledged the important role played by Uber, Bolt and other mobility platforms in giving air travellers convenient transportation choices.
FAAN also acknowledged concerns from passengers who may face difficulties accessing e-hailing services while discussions with the operators continue.
The Authority said it was keen to resolve the outstanding issues quickly and disclosed that discussions with the affected operators were ongoing.
According to FAAN, the discussions are focused mainly on passenger safety and security, operational visibility, accountability and the proper management of pick-up points within airport premises.
The Authority expressed confidence that an agreement acceptable to all parties would be reached shortly.
FAAN said its actions were guided by the need to protect passengers and provide a safe, secure, orderly and seamless airport experience.
It added that it remained committed to working with Uber, Bolt and other mobility providers to ensure that passengers continued to have safe and convenient transportation options at Nigerian airports.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
