The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced that Bolt has been cleared to resume operations at airports under its management, following the resolution of disagreements over an operational framework for e-hailing services.
FAAN, in a statement, said the decision followed constructive engagements between the Authority and Bolt, describing the development as a step towards balancing airport security and orderliness with passengers’ convenience and freedom of choice.
The Authority also apologised to travellers for the inconvenience caused by the temporary disruption of e-hailing services, saying it appreciated their patience and understanding during the period.
According to FAAN, it had, for nearly a decade, been working to address challenges associated with commercial and e-hailing vehicles operating within airport environments.
It said the challenges included passenger solicitation and touting, unregulated operations, random pick-ups, and concerns relating to safety, security and accountability.
The Authority noted that some drivers operate across multiple platforms, making it necessary to strengthen the management and visibility of commercial transportation within airports.
FAAN said it introduced the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS) in response to these concerns, describing it as a queue-management and airport transportation management system designed to provide greater structure, visibility and accountability for authorised airport car-hire services.
It stressed that ACHRAMS was neither an e-hailing application nor designed to compete with Uber, Bolt 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,” FAAN said, adding that its role was limited to managing airport car-hire ranks and authorised operations associated with them.
The Authority also rejected suggestions that it was seeking to create a monopoly in airport transportation, insisting that it supported healthy competition among service providers.
FAAN further clarified that the airport taxi fares that became a subject of public discussion were not newly imposed by the Authority or introduced by ACHRAMS.
According to the agency, the fares had existed independently of the system and were not substantially different from rates previously applicable.
It explained that ACHRAMS merely brought greater visibility and transparency to existing airport taxi fares, making the cost more readily apparent to passengers.
FAAN acknowledged, however, that the comparison between the airport taxi fares and the lower prices passengers had become accustomed to through e-hailing platforms contributed to public concerns.
The Authority said it was “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.
“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.
FAAN said it had listened to the concerns, reviewed the situation and made the necessary adjustments.
With the agreement reached with Bolt, the Authority said it was confident that the development demonstrated that airport security and integrity could be protected while retaining the convenience and freedom of choice offered by e-hailing services.
FAAN added that discussions with other e-hailing operators were ongoing and expressed confidence that the outstanding engagements would be concluded in the coming days.
The Authority reiterated that passengers remained free to choose from available transportation options that best suited their needs.
It, however, stressed that its responsibility was to ensure that all authorised transportation services operating within airport premises complied with requirements for safety, security, orderliness and accountability.
FAAN thanked the travelling public for its patience and understanding, assuring passengers that their safety, security, convenience and overall airport experience remained central to its decisions.