FAAN Clears Bolt for Immediate Return to Airports, Apologises to Passengers
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced the immediate return of Bolt’s e-hailing services to airports under its management after reaching an agreement with the ride-hailing company on a framework for its operations.
The development follows a period of disruption that left many air travellers without access to their preferred e-hailing services and triggered widespread concerns over transportation costs and passenger convenience at Nigerian airports.
FAAN, in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said it had listened to the concerns of passengers and made adjustments after engagements with Bolt.
The Authority also apologised to travellers over the inconvenience caused by the temporary interruption of e-hailing services.
“FAAN and Bolt have reached an agreeable operational framework and Bolt is cleared to commence its services at FAAN-managed airports immediately,” the statement said.
The airport operator explained that the recent measures affecting commercial and e-hailing vehicles were part of its efforts to address longstanding challenges associated with transportation activities within airport premises.
According to FAAN, it had spent nearly a decade working to resolve issues arising from the operations of commercial and e-hailing vehicles at airports.
The challenges, it said, included passenger solicitation and touting, unregulated transportation activities, random pick-ups and concerns over safety, security and accountability.
FAAN added that the increasing number of drivers operating on multiple e-hailing platforms had further complicated efforts to properly monitor commercial transportation services within airport environments.
The Authority said the need to establish greater order and visibility in airport transportation informed the introduction of the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System, known as ACHRAMS.
FAAN described ACHRAMS as a queue-management and airport transportation management system aimed at bringing greater structure, visibility and accountability to the operations of authorised airport car-hire services.
However, it rejected suggestions that the platform was created to compete with Bolt, Uber or other e-hailing companies.
“ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and was never conceived as a competitor to Uber, Bolt or any other mobility platform,” FAAN said.
The Authority stressed that the system was designed solely to manage airport car-hire ranks and the authorised activities associated with them.
FAAN also maintained that it supported healthy competition in the airport transportation sector and had no intention of establishing or promoting a monopoly.
Addressing the controversy surrounding transportation charges at airports, the Authority said the fares that recently attracted criticism were not newly introduced by FAAN or generated by the ACHRAMS platform.
It explained that airport taxi fares had existed independently of the application and that the rates were not substantially different from those previously charged.
According to FAAN, ACHRAMS merely made existing airport taxi fares more visible and transparent to passengers.
The Authority nevertheless admitted that the public reaction was understandable, particularly because many passengers had become accustomed to the generally lower fares offered by e-hailing platforms.
“FAAN recognises, however, that the comparison with the lower fares passengers had become accustomed to through e-hailing platforms understandably heightened public concern,” the statement said.
The Authority acknowledged that the interruption of e-hailing services had imposed significant inconvenience and additional financial pressure on some passengers.
It said its decision-making had been guided by regulatory, safety and security considerations rather than economic interests but conceded that the immediate impact on travellers had been considerable.
“We sincerely apologise for the difficulties this caused our passengers,” FAAN stated.
“While the Authority’s actions were driven by regulatory, safety and security considerations rather than economic interests, FAAN acknowledges that the immediate impact on passengers was significant. We have listened, reflected and made the necessary adjustments.”
FAAN said the agreement with Bolt showed that the need to maintain security and proper control of airport environments could be reconciled with passengers’ demands for convenience and freedom to choose their preferred means of transportation.
“The resolution demonstrates that it is possible to protect the integrity and security of the airport environment while preserving the convenience and freedom of choice that e-hailing services provide to passengers,” it said.
The Authority disclosed that discussions with other e-hailing operators were still ongoing and expressed confidence that outstanding issues would be resolved in the coming days.
FAAN reiterated that passengers were free to choose from available authorised transportation options, stressing that its responsibility was to ensure that all commercial transport services operating within airports complied with required safety, security and accountability standards.
The clearance of Bolt to resume operations is expected to restore an important transportation option for thousands of air travellers who rely on e-hailing services for trips to and from airports.
FAAN assured passengers that their safety, security, convenience and overall airport experience would remain central to its policies and operational decisions.
The Authority also thanked the travelling public for their patience and understanding during the period of disruption as it continues engagements aimed at establishing a sustainable operational framework for all authorised e-hailing services at Nigerian airports.
