The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has denied setting or introducing a N30,000 taxi fare for trips from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to Ikeja, following public criticism over the cost of airport transportation.
FAAN said the fare that triggered the controversy was not a new rate imposed by the authority or created through its Airport Car Hire Rank Management System, known as ACHRAMS. The clarification was issued on Thursday by the authority's Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire.
The controversy followed a viral account by travel content creator Chris Joondeph, popularly known as Authentic Travelling, who said an airport car-hire operator quoted him N30,000 for a trip from the airport to the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja.
Joondeph compared the amount with fares he had previously paid for the same journey through ride-hailing services. He eventually left the airport premises and booked an alternative ride through inDrive, which he said cost N6,100.
The significant difference between the reported fares quickly generated reactions from passengers and other Nigerians, with questions raised about the pricing of airport transportation and the availability of alternative ride-hailing services within the airport environment.
A check of available fares also showed substantial differences. For the same airport-to-Ikeja journey, Bolt was reported to list a fare of N6,900, while Uber showed N4,200 for UberX and N5,800 for its Priority option. ACHRAMS, meanwhile, lists airport-to-suburb journeys within a range of N20,000 to N30,000.
FAAN, however, said the role of ACHRAMS has been misunderstood. The authority explained that the system was introduced primarily to provide greater visibility, accountability and operational control over commercial car-hire activities at airports rather than to determine taxi prices.
According to FAAN, airport taxi fares existed independently of ACHRAMS, and the system merely made the prevailing rates more visible to passengers.
The authority also rejected suggestions that it was attempting to create a monopoly in airport transportation. FAAN said it supports competition and recognises the convenience provided by e-hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt.
The controversy has been linked to ongoing discussions between FAAN and e-hailing operators over how commercial transportation services should operate within airport premises. FAAN has maintained that airports require stricter controls because of security, safety and accountability considerations.
The authority has previously explained that it needs adequate information about vehicles, drivers and commercial transport operators working within its airports. It has also cited concerns including passenger solicitation, touting, random pick-ups and unregulated operations.
FAAN stressed that its position does not amount to a blanket prohibition of e-hailing services. Instead, it said it has been working with operators to establish an operational framework that allows them to serve passengers while meeting airport security and accountability requirements.
The situation changed further on Thursday when FAAN announced that Bolt had been cleared to resume operations at its managed airports after reaching an agreement with the authority on an operational framework. FAAN also apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused during the disruption.
The development could provide passengers with more transportation choices and potentially reduce the pressure created by reliance on airport taxi services alone.
The controversy nevertheless highlights a broader issue concerning the balance between airport regulation and passenger affordability. While FAAN has a responsibility to ensure that commercial transport services operating within airport premises meet safety and security requirements, passengers also expect reasonable prices and access to competing transportation options.
The N30,000 figure should therefore not be interpreted as a newly introduced FAAN-mandated fare based on the authority's latest clarification. It represents a fare reported by a passenger and associated with the airport's car-hire system, while FAAN maintains that the underlying airport taxi rates were not created by ACHRAMS.
For travellers, the immediate concern remains the difference between airport taxi prices and the fares available through other ride-hailing services. The restoration of services by Bolt could provide additional options, while discussions with other operators are expected to continue.
The dispute also places greater attention on how airport transportation services are priced and regulated, particularly at Nigeria's busiest airports.
FAAN's clarification is likely to shift the focus from whether the authority directly imposed the N30,000 fare to broader questions about how existing airport taxi rates are determined, whether passengers have sufficient alternatives and how competition can be maintained alongside airport security requirements.
As discussions between FAAN and mobility companies continue, passengers will be watching to see whether the eventual framework produces a more transparent, competitive and affordable airport transportation system.
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