N30,000 Airport Ride: Tourist Questions FAAN's New Transport System in Lagos

A recent policy implemented by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has led to the temporary unavailability of popular e-hailing services like Uber and Bolt at airports, prompting a tourist to highlight the significantly inflated fares he encountered at the Lagos airport. Chris, who runs the travel platform Authentic Traveling, documented the challenges he faced securing transportation from the airport following this temporary suspension of ride-hailing services.

An Instagram video posted by Chris shows him at the airport, actively seeking alternative travel arrangements since Uber and Bolt were no longer viable choices for his journey home. Upon consulting airport personnel for assistance, he was taken aback by the information he received. A FAAN-uniformed staff member directed Chris to the agency's approved airport car hire rank management system (ACHRAMS), stating, "We have app now," when he inquired about a ride. Using the ACHRAMS application, Chris was informed that a trip from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, located in Ikeja, to another destination within Ikeja, would command a staggering N30,000 fare. He noted that the identical route typically cost him between N6,000 and N8,000 when using Uber.

Refusing to be subjected to what he perceived as extortion, Chris opted to walk a considerable distance until he reached a hotel outside the airport premises, where he successfully booked a ride for a significantly lower sum of N6,100.

Just last week, ThisDay newspaper had reported on FAAN's temporary prohibition of Uber and Bolt e-hailing platforms, pending the conclusion of ongoing discussions between the relevant stakeholders. This measure was reportedly aimed at streamlining taxi operations across airports managed by FAAN, including those in Abuja and Lagos. Contradicting this, FAAN later clarified that it had not issued a blanket ban on e-hailing services at national airports.

In a statement released on Thursday, August 20, FAAN asserted that its stance was not designed to restrict passenger access to transport alternatives or diminish the convenience offered by e-hailing services to air travelers. Instead, the authority emphasized its core duty to ensure that all activities within the airport environment uphold the safety, security, and convenience of both passengers and other airport users. FAAN stated: "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." They further added that, "The current situation should therefore not be misconstrued as FAAN declaring a blanket prohibition on e-hailing services." "Rather, it is part of an ongoing process of operational alignment with the objective of ensuring that e-hailing services can continue to serve passengers within a framework that meets the requirements of the airport," FAAN concluded.

Addressing its Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS), which was launched by the agency in June 2026, FAAN clarified that ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and was not designed to rival or duplicate the services offered by platforms like Uber or Bolt. The statement explained that ACHRAMS was initiated to boost operational efficiency, increase revenue, minimize loitering in airport arrival zones, and offer travelers quicker and more streamlined access to car hire services at FAAN-operated airports. The authority further explained that ACHRAMS's main purpose is to provide operational oversight and tracking within airport premises, while also ensuring smooth and transparent management of concession fees and other airport-related charges. Nevertheless, commuters are expressing significant concerns over the astronomically higher transportation costs when booking through ACHRAMS compared to the fares offered by Uber and Bolt.