FAAN Clears Bolt To Resume Operations At Nigerian Airports

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has approved the immediate resumption of Bolt services at all airports under its management after reaching an agreement with the ride-hailing company on an operational framework.

According to IREPORTER ONLINE, the development follows complaints from passengers who expressed concerns over increased transportation costs and inconvenience during the temporary suspension of e-hailing services at Nigerian airports.

FAAN, in a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, apologised to affected travellers and assured them that their concerns had been considered in resolving the dispute.

The authority explained that the suspension of e-hailing operations was prompted by long-standing challenges associated with airport transportation, including passenger solicitation, touting, unregulated pick-ups, security concerns and difficulties in monitoring commercial vehicles.

FAAN said it had been dealing with such issues for nearly a decade and introduced the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS) to improve the organisation and regulation of authorised airport transport operators.

The authority, however, clarified that ACHRAMS was not established to compete with e-hailing platforms such as Bolt and Uber, nor was it responsible for setting the fares charged by airport taxis.

FAAN noted that the taxi fares being discussed publicly existed before ACHRAMS was introduced, adding that the system merely provided greater visibility and structure for existing operations.

The agency acknowledged that the difference between airport taxi fares and the lower prices passengers were accustomed to paying through e-hailing platforms contributed to the backlash that followed the suspension.

It maintained that its actions were motivated by safety, security and regulatory considerations rather than financial interests.

Following engagements between FAAN and Bolt, both parties reached an agreement on how the ride-hailing company would operate within the airport environment.

FAAN subsequently announced that Bolt had been cleared to immediately resume its services at all FAAN-managed airports.

The authority said the agreement would enable it to maintain security and order while allowing passengers to continue enjoying the convenience and flexibility offered by e-hailing services.

FAAN also disclosed that discussions were ongoing with other e-hailing operators and expressed optimism that agreements with them would be reached soon.

The authority assured passengers that they remained free to choose any authorised transportation option that best suited their needs, while stressing that safety, security, convenience and passenger experience remained key priorities.