FAAN denies fix on controversial N30,000 Lagos airport taxi rate

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has clarified that the controversial N30,000 taxi fare for trips from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, was not a rate newly imposed by the authority or introduced through its Airport Car Hire Rank Management System.

FAAN made the clarification in a statement signed by its Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, on Thursday, amid public criticism over the cost of airport transportation.

The controversy followed a video by travel content creator Chris Joondeph, known as Authentic Travelling, who showed a quoted fare of N30,000 for a trip from the Lagos airport to the Radisson Hotel in Ikeja.

A check by PUNCH Online showed that the same journey was listed at N6,900 on another e-hailing platform, while Uber quoted N4,200 for UberX and N5,800 for its Priority option.

Reacting to the concerns, FAAN said the airport taxi fares highlighted in recent public discussions had existed before ACHRAMS and were not substantially different from the rates previously applicable.

“It is also important to clarify that the fares highlighted in some of the recent public discussions were not rates newly imposed by FAAN or created by ACHRAMS,” the authority said.

“Airport taxi fares have existed independently of the application, and the rates themselves were not substantially different from those previously applicable.”

FAAN explained that ACHRAMS, which stands for Airport Car Hire Rank Management System, was introduced to improve the management and visibility of authorised airport car-hire operations and was not designed to determine or introduce taxi fares.

“What ACHRAMS introduced was greater visibility and transparency around the prevailing airport-taxi rates, making the cost more readily apparent to passengers,” it said.

The authority acknowledged that the comparison with e-hailing fares had heightened concerns among passengers, who had become accustomed to cheaper transportation options through platforms such as Uber and Bolt.

“FAAN recognises, however, that the comparison with the lower fares passengers had become accustomed to through e-hailing platforms understandably heightened public concern,” it stated.

The clarification came as FAAN also announced that it had resolved its operational issues with Bolt, clearing the e-hailing company to resume services at its managed airports.

FAAN said its efforts to strengthen the management of commercial transportation at airports followed concerns that had persisted for nearly a decade, including passenger solicitation, touting, random pick-ups, unregulated operations and associated safety, security and accountability issues.

The authority also stressed that it supported competition in airport transportation and had no intention of creating a monopoly.

“FAAN supports healthy competition and does not seek to create or promote a monopoly in airport transportation,” it stated.