FAAN clears bolt to resume operations at Nigerian airports
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has cleared Bolt to immediately resume e-hailing services at airports under its management, following discussions aimed at resolving safety, security, and operational concerns.
In a statement issued on Thursday, FAAN apologised to passengers affected by the temporary disruption of e-hailing services, acknowledging the inconvenience and higher transport costs that followed the restriction.
“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.
“We sincerely apologise for the difficulties this caused our passengers,” the authority said.
FAAN said the restriction stemmed from longstanding concerns over commercial and e-hailing vehicles operating within airport premises, including passenger solicitation, touting, random pick-ups, unregulated operations and issues of accountability.
The authority said it introduced the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System, known as ACHRAMS, to improve supervision of authorised airport car-hire services.
However, FAAN stressed that ACHRAMS was not created to compete with ride-hailing platforms such as Bolt and Uber.
“ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and was never conceived as a competitor to Uber, Bolt or any other mobility platform,” FAAN said.
“Its function is limited to the management of airport car-hire ranks and the authorised operations associated with them.”
The agency also rejected suggestions that it introduced new airport taxi fares through the system, saying the rates had existed before ACHRAMS but became more visible to travellers through the platform.
“It is also important to clarify that the fares highlighted in some of the recent public discussions were not rates newly imposed by FAAN or created by ACHRAMS,” the statement said.
FAAN said it had now reached an agreement with Bolt on an operational framework that would allow the company to return while maintaining airport security and order.
“The Authority is therefore pleased to announce that, 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.
According to FAAN, talks are continuing with other e-hailing operators, with outstanding issues expected to be resolved in the coming days.
The authority added that passengers would remain free to select from authorised transport options, while it works to ensure that airport transportation operates “within a safe, secure, orderly and accountable airport environment.”
