FAAN REJECTS BLAME FOR UBER’S NIGERIA EXIT, SAYS AIRPORT TALKS WERE UNRELATED

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has dismissed suggestions that its policies or recent restrictions on e-hailing operations at airports were responsible for Uber’s decision to withdraw from the Nigerian market.

FAAN’s clarification comes shortly after Uber announced that it would discontinue its operations in Nigeria and Uganda, ending 12 years of service in the Nigerian market. The ride-hailing company said its decision followed a review of its business priorities and investment strategy across Africa, stressing that its departure was not connected to the recent directives concerning e-hailing services at Nigerian airports.

The development had generated speculation because FAAN had recently been involved in discussions with Uber and other e-hailing operators over how such services should function within airport premises. The issue became particularly contentious after reports of restrictions affecting e-hailing services at some airports, including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

However, FAAN maintained that its position was never intended to prevent travellers from using Uber, Bolt or other ride-hailing platforms. Rather, the authority said it was concerned about ensuring that commercial transport providers operating within airport environments comply with safety, security and operational requirements.

According to FAAN, airports are highly regulated environments where authorities need to have adequate knowledge of the vehicles and drivers providing commercial transportation services. The agency said this visibility is important for accountability, passenger protection and effective response in cases involving security or other emergencies.

The authority also addressed concerns surrounding its Airport Car Hire Rank Management System, known as ACHRAMS. FAAN explained that the platform was introduced to improve the organisation and monitoring of commercial ground transportation within airports and was not developed as a competing ride-hailing service.

FAAN said ACHRAMS was designed to provide better operational visibility, facilitate the tracking of commercial vehicles and support the management of applicable airport-related charges. The agency therefore rejected suggestions that the system was intended to replace Uber, Bolt or other established e-hailing platforms.

The authority also pointed to challenges associated with commercial transportation around airport premises, including passenger solicitation and touting. It said these problems made it necessary to establish a clearer framework through which transport operators could provide services without compromising passenger safety or the orderly functioning of airport facilities.

FAAN said it had consequently been engaging e-hailing companies to develop an arrangement that would allow them to continue serving passengers while meeting the requirements of the airport environment. The discussions, according to the authority, were focused on issues such as security, accountability, vehicle and driver identification and the proper management of pick-up activities.

The clarification followed growing public concern over reports that e-hailing passengers were experiencing difficulties accessing their preferred services at airports. Some travellers had also complained that restrictions on ride-hailing services could lead to higher transportation costs, particularly for passengers arriving at major Nigerian airports.

FAAN acknowledged that some passengers may have experienced inconvenience during the period of discussions with operators. Nevertheless, the authority said the situation should not be interpreted as a blanket prohibition of e-hailing services at Nigerian airports.

The agency reiterated its willingness to work with Uber, Bolt and other mobility companies to develop an arrangement that balances passenger convenience with the security and operational demands of airport facilities.

Meanwhile, Uber has maintained that its decision to leave Nigeria was based on broader business considerations rather than the airport dispute. The company said it remained committed to other markets across sub-Saharan Africa and would continue investing in locations where it sees opportunities to create value for drivers and riders.

Uber's Nigerian operations began in Lagos in 2014 before the company expanded to Abuja in 2016. Its exit therefore marks the end of more than a decade of operations in the country, although other major e-hailing companies remain active in the Nigerian market.

FAAN said its priority remains the provision of a safe, secure and well-organised airport environment. It stressed that its regulatory efforts were designed to protect passengers and improve transportation management rather than drive e-hailing companies out of Nigeria.