The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has resolved the operational issues surrounding e-hailing services at its managed airports, clearing Bolt to immediately resume operations following constructive engagements between both parties.
The Authority, in a statement signed by its Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, on Wednesday, said the resolution followed efforts to establish an agreeable and sustainable framework for e-hailing operations within the airport environment.
FAAN also apologised to passengers for the inconvenience experienced during the temporary interruption of e-hailing services, assuring the travelling public that safety, security and convenience remained at the centre of its decisions.
For nearly a decade, the Authority said it had been addressing challenges associated with commercial and e-hailing vehicles operating within airport premises, including passenger solicitation, touting, unregulated operations and random pick-ups.
According to FAAN, the challenges, which sometimes involve drivers operating across multiple platforms, raised safety, security and accountability concerns and necessitated stronger management and visibility of commercial transportation at the airports.
The Authority explained that it introduced the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS) in response to these concerns.
FAAN said ACHRAMS was designed as a queue-management and airport transportation system to provide greater structure, visibility and accountability for authorised airport car-hire services.
It stressed that ACHRAMS was neither an e-hailing application nor a competitor to Bolt, Uber or any other mobility platform.
“ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and was never conceived as a competitor to Uber, Bolt or any other mobility platform”, the Authority said.
FAAN added that the system was limited to the management of airport car-hire ranks and authorised operations, stressing that it supported healthy competition and had no intention of creating or promoting a monopoly in airport transportation.
The Authority also clarified the controversy surrounding airport taxi fares, saying the rates discussed publicly were not newly imposed by FAAN or introduced by ACHRAMS.
It explained that airport taxi fares had existed independently of the system, with the prevailing rates not substantially different from those previously applicable.
According to FAAN, what ACHRAMS changed was the visibility and transparency of the existing airport-taxi rates, making the cost more readily apparent to passengers.
The Authority acknowledged, however, that the comparison between the airport taxi fares and the lower fares passengers had become accustomed to through e-hailing platforms heightened concerns during the disruption.
“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”, it said.
“We sincerely apologise for the difficulties this caused our passengers”.
FAAN maintained that its actions were driven by regulatory, safety and security considerations rather than economic interests, but acknowledged that the immediate impact on passengers had been significant.
“We have listened, reflected and made the necessary adjustments,” the Authority said.
With the latest resolution, FAAN announced that Bolt had been cleared to commence services at FAAN-managed airports immediately under the agreed operational framework.
The Authority said the development demonstrated that airport security and regulatory requirements could be maintained without compromising passengers’ convenience and freedom of choice.
FAAN further disclosed that it remained engaged with other e-hailing operators and expressed confidence that outstanding discussions would be concluded in the coming days.
It reiterated that passengers remained free to choose from available transportation options that best suited their needs, while stressing that all authorised services must operate within a safe, secure, orderly and accountable airport environment.
The Authority thanked passengers for their patience and understanding during the period of disruption, assuring them that their safety, security, convenience and overall airport experience remained central to its decisions.