The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is seeking a new operational framework for Uber, Bolt and other e-hailing services operating at Nigerian airports.
FAAN disclosed this in a statement issued by its management on Thursday, August 20, 2026, amid growing concerns over the operations of e-hailing services at some airports.
The authority said the proposed framework is aimed at ensuring that e-hailing operations within airport premises meet requirements for passenger safety, security, accountability, operational visibility and orderly pick-up arrangements.
According to FAAN, it is currently engaging affected operators to develop an arrangement that will allow e-hailing services to continue serving passengers while meeting the operational requirements of the airport environment.
FAAN stressed that its position on e-hailing services is not intended to restrict passengers’ access to transportation options or undermine the role of platforms such as Uber and Bolt in providing convenient mobility for air travellers.
It explained that airports are highly regulated environments where commercial transportation services require an appropriate operational framework.
“FAAN has been engaging the relevant e-hailing operators to achieve a mutually workable operational framework that recognises the value of their services while addressing the peculiar safety, security, accountability and passenger-experience requirements of the airport environment,” the authority said.
FAAN said the proposed framework would provide adequate visibility over vehicles, drivers and operations while ensuring that transportation providers are identifiable and accountable.
The authority said it had received complaints and observed operational challenges associated with commercial transportation activities around airports, including passenger solicitation and touting.
It added that the volume and nature of passenger movements at airports make it necessary for transportation providers to be properly integrated into airport operational and security systems.
According to FAAN, its discussions with Uber, Bolt and other affected operators are focused on passenger safety and security, operational visibility, accountability and the management of pick-up activities within airport premises.
The authority also clarified the role of its Airport Car Hire Rank Management System, ACHRAMS, amid concerns over the system’s relationship with e-hailing services.
FAAN stressed that ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and was not developed to compete with or replicate the services provided by Uber, Bolt or other e-hailing platforms.
Instead, the authority said ACHRAMS was designed primarily to provide operational visibility and tracking within the airport environment.
The system is also intended to facilitate the accountable management of applicable concession and related airport charges.
FAAN said its discussions with e-hailing operators are separate from ACHRAMS and are focused specifically on establishing an appropriate operational framework for e-hailing services.
The authority reaffirmed its commitment to working with Uber, Bolt and other mobility providers to maintain safe and convenient transportation options for passengers.
It also clarified that the current situation should not be interpreted as a blanket prohibition on e-hailing services, expressing confidence that a mutually acceptable arrangement would be reached shortly.
The latest development follows a separate controversy involving airport car-hire operators in July 2026, when a social media video showed drivers appearing to resist aspects of FAAN’s commercial transport requirements.
Reports circulating online had claimed that FAAN required vehicles manufactured in 2020 or newer for airport operations.
FAAN subsequently rejected the claim, saying the incident was linked to resistance by car-hire operators to registration on ACHRAMS and attempts to prevent the system’s soft and pilot launches at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The authority said one of the conditions for ACHRAMS registration was the use of vehicles manufactured in 2012 or newer, rather than the reported 2020 minimum.
FAAN added that the vehicle requirement had been communicated to airport car-hire operators since 2024, with an initial compliance deadline of January 1, 2026, which was later extended to June 2026.
The authority subsequently considered a further extension to October 1, 2026, while also reviewing the operational tariff for airport cab operators from N500 to N1,500.
The current discussions with Uber and Bolt come amid increasing competition between e-hailing platforms and traditional airport car-hire operators.
A previous investigation into the sector found that e-hailing services had disrupted the traditional airport car-hire business at Lagos airports, with passengers increasingly comparing transportation options based on price and convenience.
Traditional operators have cited the cost of operating within airports, including parking charges, as one of the challenges affecting their ability to compete on price.
However, traditional car-hire operators can sometimes offer lower fares during peak periods when dynamic pricing causes e-hailing fares to rise.
The competition is now unfolding alongside FAAN’s broader efforts to strengthen oversight of commercial transportation at airports through measures including ACHRAMS, vehicle standards and controlled passenger pick-up arrangements.
