Nigeria's FAAN slammed over exorbitant N30,000 airport taxi fare

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is facing a barrage of criticism following the introduction of a new airport car-hire service that charges outrageously high fares. The controversy ignited after a viral video captured a passenger being quoted N30,000 for a taxi ride from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to Ikeja.

“

Radisson, that’s in GRA Ikeja. It’s just N30,000.

Travel content creator Chris Joondeph, known as "Authentic Traveling," shared his shock on TikTok, stating that an airport car-hire operator quoted him N30,000 for a trip to the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja. Joondeph noted that the same journey usually cost him no more than N8,000. He opted to leave the airport and book a ride through an alternative service, securing an inDrive ride for N6,100.

“

It costs N30,000 to Ikeja, when it normally used to cost me at most N8,000. Me, I sabi. I won’t be paying that.

Comparisons reveal a stark disparity in pricing. FAAN's new platform, ACHRAMS, lists journeys from the airport to the city center between N10,000 and N20,000, with trips to suburbs ranging from N20,000 to N30,000. Inter-state journeys are priced between N30,000 and N60,000. In contrast, Bolt quoted N6,900 for the same airport-to-Radisson Blu journey, while Uber offered N4,200 for UberX and N5,800 for its Priority option.

“

I am here outside of this hotel called Blue Lodge Hotel. I just ordered an inDrive, which was the first one to come. So he’s a couple of minutes away, and it is N6,100 that I’m going to pay to get home.

Social media users have decried the fares as "exploitation" and a "rip-off." One user questioned how a short journey of roughly 4-9 kilometers could command such a price, especially since FAAN banned other ride-hailing services from operating within the airport. This move, coupled with the high pricing of the new service, has fueled public anger and accusations of unfair practices.

“

This is a rip-off and I wonder why FAAN would ban UBER from operating inside the airport and collaborate with an operator that would charge N30,000 from the airport to Radisson Blu Ikeja. UBER would charge between N6,000 and N8,000 for the same trip.