The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has resolved its operational issues with Bolt, clearing the e-hailing company to immediately resume services at airports managed by the Authority.
FAAN disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, following constructive engagements between the Authority and Bolt.
The Authority said the agreement was reached to establish an operational framework that would allow e-hailing services to operate within the airport environment while addressing safety, security and accountability concerns.
FAAN said the resolution would help preserve passengers’ access to convenient transportation options without compromising the integrity of airport operations.
“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,” the Authority said.
FAAN also apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the temporary interruption of e-hailing services.
“We sincerely apologise for the difficulties this caused our passengers,” it said.
The Authority explained that it had spent nearly a decade working to address challenges linked to commercial and e-hailing vehicles operating within airports.
According to FAAN, the challenges included passenger solicitation, touting, unregulated operations, random pick-ups and concerns over safety, security and accountability.
“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,” the Authority said.
It added that some drivers operate across more than one platform, making it necessary to strengthen the management and visibility of commercial transportation at airports.
“These challenges, which in some instances involve drivers operating across more than one platform, have made it necessary for the Authority to strengthen the management and visibility of commercial transportation within the airport,” FAAN said.
The Authority said it introduced the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System, ACHRAMS, to provide a more structured approach to airport transportation.
FAAN described ACHRAMS as a queue-management and airport transportation management system designed to improve the structure, visibility and accountability 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,” the Authority said.
It stressed that the system was specifically designed to manage airport car-hire ranks and authorised operations.
“Its function is limited to the management of airport car-hire ranks and the authorised operations associated with them,” FAAN said.
The Authority also denied seeking to establish a monopoly in airport transportation, saying it supports competition among transportation providers.
“FAAN supports healthy competition and does not seek to create or promote a monopoly in airport transportation,” it said.
On concerns about airport taxi fares, FAAN clarified that the rates highlighted in recent public discussions were not newly imposed by the Authority or introduced by ACHRAMS.
“Airport taxi fares have existed independently of the application, and the rates themselves were not substantially different from those previously applicable,” it said.
However, FAAN acknowledged that the temporary interruption of e-hailing services had resulted in higher costs and inconvenience for some passengers.
“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,” the Authority said.
It explained that ACHRAMS only increased the visibility of existing airport taxi rates, making the cost clearer to passengers.
“What ACHRAMS introduced was greater visibility and transparency around the prevailing airport-taxi rates, making the cost more readily apparent to passengers,” FAAN said.
The Authority said the comparison between those rates and the lower fares passengers had become accustomed to through e-hailing services understandably generated public concern.
FAAN maintained that its actions were motivated by regulatory, safety and security considerations rather than economic interests.
“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,” it said.
The Authority said it had taken the concerns raised by passengers into consideration and adjusted its approach.
“We have listened, reflected and made the necessary adjustments,” FAAN said.
FAAN said Bolt had now been cleared to commence its services at FAAN-managed airports immediately.
“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,” it said.
The Authority also disclosed that discussions with other e-hailing operators were ongoing.
“FAAN remains engaged with other e-hailing operators and is confident that the outstanding discussions will be concluded in the coming days,” it said.
FAAN reiterated that passengers remained free to choose the transportation option that best suited their needs.
“Passengers remain free to choose from available transportation options that best meet their needs,” the Authority said.
It added that its role was to ensure that every authorised transportation service operating within the airport environment complied with safety, security and accountability requirements.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that whichever authorised service they choose operates within a safe, secure, orderly and accountable airport environment,” FAAN said.
The Authority thanked the travelling public for their patience and understanding during the period of inconvenience and assured passengers that their interests would remain central to its decisions.
“Passengers’ safety, security, convenience and overall airport experience remain at the centre of FAAN’s decisions,” the Authority said.