FAAN clears Bolt to resume airport operations, put others on hold

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has cleared Bolt to resume airport operations following the resolution of issues surrounding e-hailing services within airport environments. In a statement, FAAN's Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said the Authority and Bolt reached an operational agreement, allowing Bolt's services to resume immediately at FAAN-managed airports.

This comes after a temporary suspension of e-hailing operations, which sparked concerns over transportation options and fares at airports. FAAN apologized for the inconvenience caused and explained that the issues were part of longstanding challenges, including passenger solicitation, unregulated operations, and safety concerns.

To address these, FAAN introduced the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS), which provides structure and visibility for authorized car-hire services. FAAN clarified that ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and is not a competitor to platforms like Bolt and Uber. The Authority also emphasized that airport taxi fares existed independently of ACHRAMS and were not substantially different from previous rates.

FAAN acknowledged passenger concerns about increased transportation costs and expressed its commitment to ensuring safe, secure, and convenient airport experiences. Discussions with other e-hailing operators are ongoing, but FAAN assured passengers that they can choose from available transportation options that comply with airport regulations.