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

n n

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.

n

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.

n

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.n

n

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.

n

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.n

n

“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.

n

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

n

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.

n

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

n

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.

n

“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.

n

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.

n

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.

n

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

n

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

n n