The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has come under criticism from stakeholders in the aviation industry over its decision to restrict the operations of e-hailing platforms, including Uber and Bolt, at Nigerian airports.
The stakeholders argued that although FAAN had the authority to regulate transportation services within airport premises, such regulations should prioritise passenger convenience, safety and affordability rather than protect a particular group of transport operators.
The Principal Managing Partner of Aeronexus Group, Gbenga Onitilo, said the controversy was not about whether airport transportation should be regulated, but whether the regulation placed passengers at the centre of the policy.
Onitilo expressed concern over reports of passengers being stranded and paying higher fares following the restriction. He noted that Bolt already had structured airport pricing and routes, suggesting that the platform could be regulated instead of being excluded.
He also questioned the requirement that vehicles operating at airports must be 2012 models or newer, saying that while the standard might be justified on safety and quality grounds, it could impose significant financial pressure on operators.
He said a 2012 used vehicle could cost more than N15 million, adding that operators also had to contend with fuel, maintenance, insurance and financing costs.
Onitilo further questioned whether existing airport taxi operators had enough capacity to accommodate passengers who previously relied on Uber and Bolt, particularly travellers arriving at the airports and needing immediate transportation.
He cited airports in Accra, Johannesburg and Kenya as examples of facilities where e-hailing services have been incorporated into airport transportation systems.
Similarly, the former Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, described the restriction as an infringement on passengers’ rights.
He argued that passengers already contributed to the financing of the aviation sector through charges such as the Ticket Sales Charge and FAAN administrative fees.
According to him, restricting Uber and Bolt did not necessarily address safety or orderliness at airports but could instead give an unfair advantage to a limited number of airport transport operators.
He urged airport taxi operators to compete with e-hailing platforms on service quality, pricing and reliability rather than depend on restrictions to eliminate competition.
The President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria (AOPAN), Dr Alex Nwuba, also questioned whether passenger interests were sufficiently considered in the decision.
Nwuba acknowledged the need for regulation within airport environments but said it should be people-oriented and focused on integrating modern transportation services into the airport ecosystem.
He maintained that passengers ultimately sustain the aviation and transportation sectors through the fares and charges they pay, making their interests central to airport policy decisions.
He advocated an approach based on integration, supervision and accountability rather than outright exclusion.
Nwuba said regulation should expand safe and reliable transportation choices for passengers while ensuring that operators meet appropriate standards.
He stressed that the effectiveness of an airport should ultimately be measured by whether passengers, including those arriving late at night, can access safe, affordable and convenient transportation to their destinations.
Credit: e-gte
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