Uber and Bolt airport ban: FAAN assures of speedy resolution

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured airport passengers and the e-hailing community that it was working to speedily resolve the ban on the operations of Uber and Bolt at federal airports. FAAN disclosed this in a press statement signed by its management team and seen by Technext.

Read also: Uber and Bolt drivers in Abuja threaten to strike over airport ban

​The Authority said it has noted recent reports and public conversations regarding the operations of e-hailing services, including Uber and Bolt, at some of the nation’s airports and wishes to clarify its position.

​”FAAN wishes to clarify that its position is not, and has never been, directed at limiting passengers’ access to transportation options or undermining the important role that e-hailing services play in providing convenient mobility to air travellers. Rather, FAAN’s primary responsibility is to ensure that activities within the airport environment are conducted in a manner that guarantees the safety, security and convenience of passengers and other airport users,” the statement reads.

The aviation regulator also said it recognises the significant convenience and additional choice that platforms such as Uber and Bolt provide to passengers and appreciates the concerns being expressed by passengers who may experience inconvenience while these operational issues are being resolved. It is for this reason that it is keen to see the discussions concluded expeditiously.

“The Authority and the affected operators are currently engaged in constructive discussions towards resolving the outstanding issues, particularly those relating to passenger safety and security, operational visibility, accountability and the appropriate management of pick-up activities within the airport environment. FAAN remains confident that a mutually acceptable understanding will be reached shortly,” the statement reads.

Aftermath of FAAN’s Uber and Bolt airport ban

Technext reported last month that FAAN had suspended the operations of Bolt at federal airports for regulatory and operational requirements. The suspension was contained in a letter signed by the Authority’s Director of Commercial and Business Development, Adebola Joy Agunbiade.

Later that month, in an internal memo signed by the Authority’s General Manager of Commercial Services, U.R. Liman, the Authority ordered its operatives to ensure that all operators of Bolt and Uber are suspended from airports until their licence agreements have been finalised and concluded, according to a Business Day report.

In the aftermath of the suspension, traditional airport taxis reportedly hiked their fares, forcing passengers to part with exorbitant sums. To make matters worse, Uber and Bolt drivers, under the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if the imbroglio is not resolved speedily and effectively.

In its statement, FAAN said the current situation should not be misconstrued as 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.

It said it has, over time, received complaints and observed operational challenges associated with commercial transportation activities within and around airport premises, including issues relating to passenger solicitation and touting. These concerns make it imperative for it to have a clear and effective framework for managing commercial transportation activities at the airport.

​Consequently, all commercial transportation services operating within airport premises are required to have an appropriate framework that provides the airport authority with adequate visibility over their operations, vehicles and drivers, while also ensuring effective coordination in the event of a security or passenger-related incident.

​This is particularly important given the volume and nature of passenger movements at our airports and the need to ensure that persons providing transportation services within the airport environment are identifiable, accountable and properly integrated into the airport’s operational and security framework.

​”Against this background, 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,” the statement reads.

The Authority also reiterates that its actions are guided by one overriding consideration: to protect passengers while providing them with a safe, secure, orderly and seamless airport experience. It also expressed its commitment to working collaboratively with Uber, Bolt and other mobility providers to achieve this objective and ensure that passengers continue to have safe and convenient transportation options at our airports.

Finally, it also clarified that ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and is not intended to compete with or replicate the services provided by Uber, Bolt or any other e-hailing platform. It was developed primarily to provide operational visibility and tracking within the airport environment, while also facilitating seamless and accountable management of applicable concession and related airport charges.