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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

Uber’s Exit from Nigeria Had Nothing to Do with FAAN, Official Says

From Premium Times · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Nigeria’s Federal Airports Authority rejected claims that its restrictions on ride-hailing services at airports contributed to Uber’s decision to leave the country.
  • FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku said Uber’s departure followed its own business and regulatory considerations, while the authority controlled only airport operations.
  • FAAN restricted Uber and Bolt at its airports pending licensing agreements, citing safety, identification, accountability and solicitation concerns; Bolt later reached an agreement to resume services.

Nigeria’s airport authority has rejected any link between its restrictions on ride-hailing services and Uber’s decision to leave the country, saying the company’s departure was a business matter.

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku said Uber had been considering its exit for some time. Speaking to journalists at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, she said the authority had no control over the company’s wider Nigerian operations.

“I can’t speak to their exit from Nigeria. I’m sure they have their own economic and regulatory considerations as to why they chose to exit,” Kuku said. She added that airports represented only a small part of Uber’s activities in the country. “So, it has nothing to do with FAAN. Again, the airport is just a small part of the wider area in which they operate within Nigeria,” she said.

I can’t speak to their exit from Nigeria. I’m sure they have their own economic and regulatory considerations as to why they chose to exit.

· Olubunmi KukuThe FAAN managing director rejected claims that the authority caused Uber’s departure from Nigeria.

Uber announced on Sept. 2 that it would discontinue operations in Nigeria after 12 years, citing a review of its evolving business priorities and investment focus across Africa. Premium Times reported that the company specifically said its exit was unrelated to FAAN’s recent directive.

The dispute over airport ride-hailing services began on July 30, when FAAN instructed airport managers to stop Uber and Bolt from conducting commercial operations at airports under its management. The order remained in place pending licensing agreements and prompted concerns from passengers and operators, including reports of difficulties finding familiar services and higher fares for alternatives. Bolt later reached an agreement with FAAN and was cleared to resume operations. FAAN said its action was not a blanket ban, but reflected concerns about passenger safety, identification, accountability and solicitation in regulated airport spaces.

So, it has nothing to do with FAAN. Again, the airport is just a small part of the wider area in which they operate within Nigeria.

· Olubunmi KukuKuku said airport operations represented only a small part of Uber’s Nigerian business.
About this summary

Originally published by Premium Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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