FAAN Clears Bolt to Resume Airport Operations, Continues Talks With Other E-Hailing Firms
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has cleared ride-hailing company Bolt to resume operations at airports under its management, following an agreement reached between both parties over how the platform will operate within the airport environment.
The development comes after a temporary disruption of e-hailing services at some Nigerian airports triggered complaints from travellers, particularly over difficulties accessing familiar ride-hailing options and concerns about the cost of alternative airport transportation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, August 27, 2026, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said the authority had reached an “agreeable operational framework” with Bolt following constructive engagements. Bolt has consequently been cleared to commence its airport services immediately.
FAAN apologises to passengers
FAAN acknowledged that the temporary disruption created inconvenience for passengers and apologised for the difficulties experienced.
The authority said it had listened to public concerns and made necessary adjustments after considering the impact of the disagreement on air travellers.
Global Mirror News gathered that the controversy intensified after passengers reported difficulties using conventional e-hailing services at airport premises, with some travellers turning to airport car-hire operators whose quoted fares were perceived to be significantly higher than prices previously available through platforms such as Bolt and Uber.
FAAN, however, maintained that the situation was not driven by an attempt to eliminate e-hailing companies from Nigerian airports.
Why FAAN introduced ACHRAMS
According to the authority, the dispute was linked to long-standing concerns over the operation of commercial and e-hailing vehicles within airport environments.
FAAN said it had spent almost a decade trying to address issues surrounding safety, security, accountability, passenger solicitation and unregulated pick-ups at airports.
It explained that some drivers operate across multiple e-hailing platforms, creating the need for a system through which airport authorities can properly identify vehicles and drivers and maintain adequate operational visibility.
These concerns led to the introduction of the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS).
FAAN stressed that ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and was never designed to compete with Bolt, Uber or other mobility platforms.
The authority describes ACHRAMS as an airport-specific system for managing car-hire ranks, authorised pick-ups, driver and vehicle identification, dispatch and operational oversight.
FAAN denies fixing airport taxi fares
The airport authority also responded to widespread criticism over fares being charged by some airport car-hire operators.
FAAN denied claims that it had taken control of, introduced or fixed the fares being discussed publicly.
The authority said the fares existed independently and were not created by ACHRAMS or newly imposed by its management.
According to FAAN, the introduction of the management system merely made existing airport car-hire rates more visible to passengers.
This, it acknowledged, brought greater public scrutiny because travellers were comparing those prices with the often lower fares displayed on conventional e-hailing platforms.
The issue became particularly contentious among passengers who rely on ride-hailing services because of their convenience and comparatively transparent pricing.
Talks with Uber, others continue
While Bolt has now reached an operational understanding with FAAN, discussions with other e-hailing operators are still ongoing.
FAAN said it remains engaged with other mobility companies and expects the outstanding discussions to be concluded in the coming days.
The authority did not disclose which platforms are yet to finalise their respective arrangements.
Earlier this month, FAAN had insisted that there was no blanket ban on Uber, Bolt or other e-hailing platforms, explaining that its objective was to establish an operational framework that would allow such companies to serve passengers while complying with airport safety and security requirements.
Passenger convenience versus airport security
FAAN said its regulatory approach was motivated by safety, security and accountability considerations rather than commercial interests.
The authority maintained that airports are highly regulated environments and that commercial transportation providers operating within them must be identifiable and accountable, particularly in situations involving security incidents or passenger complaints.
It also rejected suggestions that ACHRAMS was an attempt to create a monopoly in airport transportation.
FAAN said the resolution reached with Bolt demonstrates that airport security and passenger convenience can coexist, provided e-hailing operators work within an agreed operational framework.
The authority reiterated its commitment to ensuring that passengers continue to have access to safe, convenient and reliable transportation options when arriving at or departing from Nigerian airports.
For travellers, the immediate significance of the latest development is that Bolt services can resume at FAAN-managed airports, while the wider arrangement with other e-hailing platforms is expected to become clearer once the ongoing negotiations are concluded.
Global Mirror News reports that the development could also ease concerns over transportation costs and accessibility at Nigerian airports, particularly for passengers who have become accustomed to booking rides through mobile applications rather than relying exclusively on airport car-hire services.
