Nigeria Airports Authority Clears the Air: Uber and Bolt Remain Welcome at Terminals
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has moved to settle mounting speculation, firmly rejecting suggestions that it has banned Uber, Bolt or other e-hailing services from operating at Nigerian airports. Rather, the authority says it is actively working with these mobility providers to establish a clearer framework for their activities within airport premises, a development that carries significant weight for travellers and travel trade professionals across sub-Saharan Africa.
The clarification comes on the heels of widespread reports and passenger complaints over restrictions affecting e-hailing services at some of Nigeria's busiest gateways, including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. In a statement released this week, FAAN made clear that its position was never intended to bar passengers from booking rides through their favourite mobility apps.
Instead, the authority's core concern lies in ensuring that commercial transport operators working within airport grounds can be properly identified and monitored, particularly when situations involving passenger safety or security arise. Airports, FAAN emphasised, are highly regulated environments, and commercial transport services operating within their perimeters need a framework that provides the authority with visibility over vehicles and drivers alike.
Discussions between FAAN and the affected operators are ongoing, with the aim of agreeing on how e-hailing services should function at airports without eroding the convenience passengers have come to expect. The immediate focus is the management of airport pick-ups, an area that has long attracted concerns around passenger solicitation and touting by unregulated operators. FAAN insists that clearer rules will benefit everyone in the long term.
Importantly, the authority stressed that Uber, Bolt and other platforms remain valuable to travellers, and that it has no intention of stripping passengers of the convenience they provide. The current situation, FAAN said, should not be misinterpreted as a blanket prohibition on e-hailing services, but rather as part of an ongoing process to align operations with established airport requirements. Officials also acknowledged that some passengers may have been inconvenienced during the discussions and expressed confidence that a mutually acceptable agreement would be reached soon.
The stakes for travellers are considerable. Uber and Bolt have become a preferred choice for many Nigerian air passengers, particularly in Lagos and Abuja, largely because booking through an app allows travellers to see the driver's identity, vehicle details and estimated fare before the journey begins. Any disruption to that arrangement affects passengers immediately, especially those arriving late at night, travelling with luggage, or unfamiliar with traditional airport taxi arrangements. Reports have also flagged the risk of higher fares for passengers who are unable to secure their preferred e-hailing option at the airport.
FAAN also used the opportunity to address questions surrounding its Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS), which had been rumoured to be a competitor to existing e-hailing apps. The authority firmly rejected that suggestion, clarifying that ACHRAMS is not a ride-hailing platform and was not developed to replace Uber, Bolt or similar services. Rather, the system is intended to enhance operational visibility over commercial transport activity at airports and support the tracking of concession fees and related airport charges.
The dispute has attracted heightened attention in Lagos and Abuja due to the sheer volume of passengers passing through both airports each day. For African travel industry professionals, particularly those handling inbound Nigerian traffic or managing corporate travel programmes, the outcome of these talks will shape how smoothly clients transition from arrivals halls to their next destination in the months ahead.
For now, no permanent operating arrangement has been announced, and no fixed date for the conclusion of the discussions has been provided. What FAAN has firmly established, however, is that reports of a blanket ban are inaccurate. The authority remains committed to working with Uber, Bolt and other mobility providers to guarantee that passengers continue to enjoy safe, convenient and reliable transport options at Nigerian airports. As Africa's aviation sector continues to grow, how regulators and mobility platforms find common ground in Nigeria could well set a precedent for how ground transport at airports across the continent evolves in the years to come.
