FAAN defends airport taxi vehicle policy after operators’ complaints

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has defended its decision to require airport taxi operators to use newer vehicles, saying the policy is necessary to improve passenger experience and meet international airport standards.

The response follows widespread reports of car hire operators at Lagos airport lamenting a new FAAN requirement that restricts approved vehicles to 2020 models and above. In a public statement dated June 22, 2026, FAAN said the directive was not sudden, had been communicated to operators since July 2024, and had already been extended twice before.

The original compliance deadline was extended to January 2026 and later to June 2026. FAAN said it is now considering one final extension to October 2026, beyond which no further requests for extension will be entertained.

“Passengers who utilise airport taxi services deserve clean, roadworthy, comfortable, and professionally maintained vehicles that reflect the premium environment expected of a modern international airport,” FAAN said.

The authority also raised its operational tariff, the fee charged to cab companies for the right to operate within airport premises, from ₦500 to ₦1,500, a figure it said had remained unchanged for over eight years despite inflation and rising costs.

Similar read: Passengers ask FAAN to replace Abuja Airport taxis with Bolt and Uber

FAAN also clarified that it engages directly with registered cab companies rather than their associations or unions, which it said is consistent with its established regulatory framework.

Many travellers back FAAN’s vehicle policy

While operators have publicly complained about the vehicle requirement, many Nigerian travellers who regularly pass through Lagos airport have found it difficult to sympathise.

“Have you ever actually tried getting a ride from there?” one user wrote on X. “You land at the airport and they’ll quote you ₦40,000 to ₦50,000 just to VI. You open Uber and see ₦15,000, but once the driver arrives, suddenly it’s ‘we don’t use Uber rates here.’ If you’re going to charge me premium rates, then at least provide a premium ride, not an old beat-up car with no AC, sounding like it could break down before we reach our destination.”

Another traveller pointed out that airport cab operators actively block ride-hailing drivers from entering airport premises, maintaining a monopoly over transfers while delivering substandard service. “They’ll cluster at the car park with their old cars and slam people with ridiculous prices. Send them out of our airports,” they said.

Others took a different view. Some argued that requiring a 2020 or newer vehicle is economically unrealistic for many operators given current car prices in Nigeria. A few suggested the policy favoured better-capitalised operators, pointing to the presence of brand new electric vehicles already operating at the airport as evidence that someone had already positioned for the change.

FAAN’s position is that with more than two years of advance notice and multiple deadline extensions, operators have had sufficient time to prepare. The authority said it remains open to dialogue but is committed to enforcing standards that reflect what a modern international airport should offer.