The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has lifted its restriction on Bolt and other e-hailing services operating at airports under its management.
Newsonspot reports that FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs, Henry Agbebire, announced the development in a statement on Thursday, following widespread criticism of the restriction and concerns over the high cost of airport transportation.
The controversy emerged after the introduction of the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAM), which sparked concerns among passengers and transport operators over access to ride-hailing services at Nigerian airports.
The issue attracted further public attention after a passenger shared a viral video on X alleging that a car hire service at an airport demanded ₦30,000 for a journey that would ordinarily cost about ₦8,000.
Reacting to the backlash, FAAN clarified that ACHRAM was not an e-hailing platform and was never intended to create a monopoly over car-hiring services at Nigerian airports.
The authority subsequently engaged Bolt to address concerns surrounding the company’s operations at FAAN-managed airports.
According to FAAN, the discussions resulted in an agreement on an operational framework that would allow Bolt to resume its services.
“Following constructive engagements, FAAN and Bolt have reached an agreeable operational framework, and Bolt is cleared to commence its services at FAAN-managed airports immediately,” the statement said.
The decision effectively clears the way for Bolt drivers to resume operations at airports managed by FAAN.
FAAN also stressed that ACHRAM would continue to operate within its intended framework and remained separate from e-hailing platforms such as Bolt and Uber.
The latest development follows growing concerns from passengers and members of the public over transportation costs and the availability of affordable ride-hailing options at Nigerian airports.
