Nigeria airport authority denies imposing controversial N30,000 taxi fare

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has issued a clarification regarding the controversial N30,000 taxi fare for trips originating from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The authority stressed that this rate was not newly imposed by FAAN or introduced through its Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS).

This clarification comes amid significant public criticism, fueled by a video from travel content creator Chris Joondeph, which highlighted the high cost of airport transportation. The video showed a quoted fare of N30,000 for a journey from the airport to the Radisson Hotel in Ikeja, a price that starkly contrasts with e-hailing services like Uber, which quoted fares between N4,200 and N5,800 for the same trip.

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

FAAN explained that airport taxi fares have historically existed independently of the ACHRAMS application. The authority stated that the rates highlighted in recent discussions are not substantially different from those previously applicable. ACHRAMS was introduced to enhance the management and visibility of authorized airport car-hire operations, not to set taxi fares, FAAN emphasized.

The authority acknowledged that the comparison with lower fares from e-hailing platforms has understandably heightened public concern. FAAN also announced that it has resolved operational issues with Bolt, allowing the e-hailing company to resume services at its managed airports. These efforts to improve commercial transportation management at airports are part of FAAN's decade-long commitment to addressing issues such as passenger solicitation, touting, and unregulated operations.

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