The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has denied reports that Uber, Bolt and other e-hailing platforms have been banned from operating at airports under its management, amid growing controversy over the introduction of the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System and complaints that passengers are being charged significantly higher fares by airport car-hire operators.
The clarification followed reports and social media posts alleging that conventional e-hailing services had been shut out of airport premises, particularly at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, leaving travellers with airport taxis as their only option.
FAAN, however, said the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System, ACHRAMS, was not designed to replace Uber, Bolt or other e-hailing services but to regulate commercial pick-ups and car-hire activities within airport environments.
According to an FAQ document provided by the authority, FAAN remains responsible for airport operating rules, participating car-hire companies provide transportation services, authorised drivers conduct trips, while ACHRAMS supplies the digital infrastructure for controls and records.
Asked specifically whether the system prevents Uber or Bolt from operating, the document stated: “No. Its operating scope concerns commercial airport pick-ups within FAAN-managed airport environments.”
A FAAN source also dismissed claims that the authority had launched a separate “FAANTaxi” service that would enjoy exclusive rights to transport passengers from airports, saying there was “nothing like that.”
The controversy intensified on Wednesday after passengers at the Lagos airport complained of difficulty accessing Uber and Bolt services within the terminal environment.
Several reports alleged that passengers were being directed towards airport taxi operators charging substantially higher fares.
One traveller said he was quoted ₦30,000 for a journey from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport to the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja GRA, a trip he said had previously cost him about ₦8,000 through an e-hailing platform.
Other reported airport taxi prices included between ₦55,000 and ₦70,000 for journeys from the airport to Lekki Phase 2, compared with previous fares of between ₦25,000 and ₦35,000, while some trips to the Ikeja business district were reportedly quoted at ₦30,000.
Checks conducted around the airport, however, indicated that e-hailing drivers were still operating in the vicinity.
An Uber driver said he received a pick-up request from MMIA through the regular Uber Driver application and had not been required to use ACHRAMS or alter his normal procedure.
Another person working around the airport’s cargo and domestic terminal areas similarly said normal e-hailing pick-ups and drop-offs were continuing and that he had not observed widespread passenger stranding.
The platform is designed to register drivers and vehicles, organise queues and record trips while giving FAAN information about demand, waiting times, cancellations, incidents and operators’ performance.
The platform is designed to register drivers and vehicles, organise queues and record trips while giving FAAN information about demand, waiting times, cancellations, incidents and operators’ performance.
Passengers are not required to download an application to use the service and may access approved vehicles through authorised dispatch desks.
ACHRAMS itself does not process payments, with fares agreed between passengers and drivers or car-hire operators.
The dispute over airport transport arrangements has been building for several months.
In July, FAAN clarified that vehicles participating in the airport car-hire framework were required to have been manufactured in 2012 or later, contrary to reports suggesting that only vehicles produced from 2020 would be accepted.
The authority said the requirement had been communicated since 2024, with an initial compliance deadline extended to June 2026 and consideration subsequently given to another extension until October 1.