Airport policies didn’t drive Uber out of Nigeria, says FAAN

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, has refuted claims that her agency's restrictions on e-hailing operations at Nigerian airports led to Uber's exit from the country. According to Kuku, Uber's decision to leave was a strategic choice made by the company, emphasizing that FAAN's primary focus is on passenger safety and a smooth travel experience.

In December, FAAN temporarily halted e-hailing drivers from conducting commercial pick-ups at airports while finalizing license agreements, which led to speculation about the restriction's intent. However, Kuku clarified that the move was prompted by passenger complaints about poor experiences during the holiday period. The agency received numerous complaints about unpleasant experiences with e-hailing and car-hire services, including intimidation, dropping off passengers at the wrong locations, and drivers exploiting the airport system to charge higher fares later.

FAAN introduced its ACHRAMS platform to increase transparency and help passengers identify their drivers and service providers. Kuku stressed that FAAN does not operate car-hire services or collect payments and is solely responsible for providing passengers with visibility into their transportation. The agency acknowledges concerns over the cost of airport car-hire services, attributing the higher fares to the business model of the operators rather than their policies.

Kuku also addressed the disagreement between FAAN and e-hailing companies regarding liability and responsibility for drivers operating on their platforms, stating that both parties struggled to reach an agreement on this matter.