FAAN Restores Bolt Airport Operations Nigeria After Minister Keyamo Intervention

• The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reinstated Bolt's e-hailing services at all FAAN-managed airports in Nigeria.
• This decision followed an intervention by Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, prompted by widespread passenger complaints about high fares and inconvenience during Bolt's suspension.
• FAAN and Bolt reached an "agreeable operational framework" after constructive engagements, allowing immediate resumption of services.
• FAAN clarified that its Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS) is not an e-hailing competitor but a tool to manage authorized car-hire ranks and improve fare transparency.
• The authority apologized for passenger difficulties during the suspension and reaffirmed its support for competition in airport transportation.

The establishment of an 'agreeable operational framework' with Bolt underscores a dynamic regulatory environment for e-hailing and commercial transport services at Nigerian airports.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has officially lifted its restrictions on Bolt's e-hailing services at airports across the country, restoring passenger access to the popular mobility platform. This reversal comes after a period marked by widespread public complaints regarding significant inconvenience and rising transportation costs for travelers.

The decision to reinstate Bolt's operations followed a direct intervention from Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development. Minister Keyamo publicly announced on his X handle that he had issued a directive to FAAN to urgently address the issue of exorbitant taxi fare increases at Nigerian airports, responding to concerns raised by passengers and social media users.

FAAN confirmed the restoration in a statement released by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire. The authority indicated that the resolution was the outcome of constructive engagements between FAAN and Bolt, which led to the establishment of an agreeable operational framework. This framework now permits Bolt to recommence its services immediately at all airports managed by FAAN.

This development regarding FAAN restores Bolt airport operations Nigeria is set against a backdrop of nearly a decade of efforts by the authority to manage commercial and e-hailing transport services. FAAN has consistently grappled with challenges such as aggressive passenger solicitation, touting, unregulated operations, random pick-ups, and critical concerns related to safety, security, and accountability. These issues, sometimes involving drivers operating across multiple platforms, highlighted the necessity for enhanced management and visibility of commercial transportation within airport environments.

To address these persistent challenges, FAAN introduced the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System, known as ACHRAMS. This system was specifically designed to regulate and manage authorized airport car-hire services. FAAN explicitly clarified that ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and was never conceived as a competitor to mobility platforms like Uber or Bolt. Its primary function is limited to the management of airport car-hire ranks and their associated authorized operations.

Regarding public discussions about airport taxi fares, FAAN clarified that the rates prominently featured were neither newly imposed by the authority nor introduced by ACHRAMS. The authority stated that airport taxi fares have existed independently of the system and were not substantially different from previously applicable rates. ACHRAMS primarily introduced greater visibility and transparency around these prevailing airport-taxi rates, making the cost more readily apparent to passengers. However, FAAN acknowledged that passengers had become accustomed to the lower fares offered by e-hailing platforms, which heightened concerns over transportation costs during the temporary suspension of services.

FAAN has reiterated its commitment to supporting healthy competition within the airport transportation sector, explicitly stating its intention not to create or promote a monopoly. The establishment of an 'agreeable operational framework' with Bolt underscores a dynamic regulatory environment for e-hailing and commercial transport services at Nigerian airports. This framework is crucial for ensuring compliance and addressing the authority's ongoing concerns regarding passenger solicitation, safety, and accountability, which remain key considerations for FAAN commercial transport policy.

The intervention by Nigeria's aviation minister, Festus Keyamo, and the subsequent restoration of Bolt airport operations Nigeria, signals a responsive approach by regulatory bodies to public feedback. FAAN expressed its deep appreciation for the concerns voiced by passengers regarding the increased costs and inconvenience experienced during the temporary suspension of e-hailing services.

The authority also issued a sincere apology for the difficulties encountered by passengers during this period. This resolution, which allows Bolt to recommence services at FAAN-managed airports, aims to balance the demand for convenient e-hailing options with the critical need for regulated, safe, and accountable commercial transport operations within the airport environment.

This development signals a dynamic regulatory environment for e-hailing and commercial transport services at Nigerian airports. Legal counsel for mobility platforms and transport companies should review FAAN's 'agreeable operational framework' to ensure compliance and advise on strategies to mitigate risks related to passenger solicitation, safety, and accountability, which remain key concerns for the authority.

Source: Original reporting via local reports