Travellers arriving at Lagos and Abuja’s main airports are struggling to find affordable transport after federal authorities banned ride-hailing apps from airport grounds.
Travellers arriving at Lagos and Abuja’s main airports are struggling to find affordable transport after federal authorities banned ride-hailing apps from airport grounds. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) suspended Uber and Bolt operations on July 30, leaving passengers dependent on expensive traditional cab services.
At Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, registered cab operators now charge between N55,000 and N70,000 for journeys beyond Lekki Phase 2. This represents a dramatic jump from the N25,000 to N35,000 passengers paid via e-hailing platforms before the ban.
Shorter trips within Ikeja’s business district now cost up to N30,000, a 275 percent increase from the N8,000 average offered by app-based drivers. Journeys to major commercial zones across Lagos average N50,000, effectively doubling previous rates.
The crisis stems from a directive signed by U.R. Liman, general manager of commercial services at FAAN.
The order halted all Uber and Bolt activities pending formal licensing agreements and operational concessions.
FAAN introduced strict vehicle age restrictions and mandatory registration through a new digital system called the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System, or ACHRAMS. Andrew Bamidele, a cab operator using the platform, told journalists the system directly caused price surges because FAAN charges fees for every trip destination.
Registered operators confirm that ACHRAMS imposes mandatory per-trip concession charges, which they pass directly to passengers. The extra costs have made airport transport prohibitively expensive for many travellers.
Abuja passengers face similar hardships at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Traditional airport cabs now charge N35,000 for trips to the city centre, compared to the N18,000 riders previously paid through app-based services.
Journeys to outlying Abuja suburbs cost between N45,000 and N50,000, nearly double the N23,000 rate available via mobile applications. Prudent Matthew, an Abuja-based Bolt driver, confirmed these figures when speaking to journalists.
The licensing deadlock centres on FAAN’s demand that ride-hailing platforms integrate their driver databases directly into ACHRAMS. Drivers and operators say no legitimate business would surrender proprietary data in this manner.
Matthew recalled receiving a suspension notice on July 27. He said FAAN informed drivers that a new company was replacing Bolt and demanded the platform hand over its database for integration into the new app.
Stranded passengers now face limited transport options and escalating costs. The suspension remains in effect as licensing negotiations continue between FAAN and the ride-hailing platforms.
COURTESY: advocate.ng
