FAAN clears Bolt for airport operations, ends e-hailing disruption

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has approved Bolt’s operations at Nigerian airports, with immediate effect, following an agreement on a new operational framework for e-hailing services.

The approval ends the recent disruption to Bolt services at FAAN-managed airports and restores passengers’ access to the ride-hailing platform as the Authority seeks to balance convenience with safety, security and accountability within the airport environment.

FAAN, in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said the approval followed constructive engagements between the Authority and Bolt which resulted in an agreeable operational framework.

The Authority said the resolution demonstrated that airport security and operational integrity could be protected without undermining passengers’ convenience and freedom to choose their preferred means of transportation.

“FAAN remains engaged with other e-hailing operators and is confident that the outstanding discussions will be concluded in the coming days,” the Authority said.

FAAN reiterated that passengers remain free to choose from available transportation options that best meet their needs, stressing that its responsibility is to ensure that authorised services operate within a safe, secure, orderly and accountable airport environment.

The Authority said the move followed concerns over the activities of commercial and e-hailing vehicles at airports, including passenger solicitation and touting, unregulated operations, random pick-ups and associated safety, security and accountability challenges.

According to FAAN, some drivers operate across multiple platforms, making it necessary to strengthen the management and visibility of commercial transportation within the airport environment.

The Authority explained that it introduced the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS) in response to these challenges.

FAAN said ACHRAMS is 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 is not an e-hailing application and was not designed to compete with Bolt, Uber or other mobility platforms.

“FAAN supports healthy competition and does not seek to create or promote a monopoly in airport transportation,” the Authority said.

It also clarified that the airport taxi fares highlighted during the recent controversy were not newly imposed by FAAN or created by ACHRAMS.

According to the Authority, airport taxi fares existed independently of the system, while ACHRAMS merely provided greater visibility and transparency around prevailing rates.

FAAN acknowledged that the comparison between those fares and the lower prices passengers had become accustomed to through e-hailing platforms contributed to public concerns during the temporary interruption of services.

The Authority apologised to passengers for the increased costs and inconvenience experienced during the disruption, assuring them that their safety, security, convenience and overall airport experience remain central to its decisions.

The approval of Bolt is also expected to ease transportation concerns for passengers who rely on app-based mobility services for airport transfers, while FAAN continues discussions with other e-hailing operators over their operations at its airports.