Lagos Airport Transport Row: Travellers Protest High Fares as FAAN Defends E-Hailing Policy

A fresh controversy is brewing over transportation services at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, with travellers raising concerns over the cost of airport taxis following restrictions on the operation of popular e-hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt within the airport premises.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, says the policy is not an outright ban on e-hailing services but is aimed at strengthening safety, accountability and regulation within the airport environment.

However, passengers and some commentators argue that the policy has effectively limited access to cheaper transportation options and left travellers with more expensive alternatives.

The debate gained renewed attention after a traveller shared his experience after arriving in Nigeria.

In a video circulating online, the traveller said that a journey from the airport to Ikeja, which he normally paid between six and eight thousand naira for using Uber, was now quoted at about thirty thousand naira through the airport's designated transportation service.

The traveller said he had decided not to pay the fare and instead walked outside the airport premises to order an Uber.

The experience has triggered widespread discussion among Nigerians and travellers over whether the new arrangement represents a necessary security measure or an unfair restriction on competition.

FAAN has rejected suggestions that it is deliberately preventing passengers from accessing transportation options.

According to the authority, its primary responsibility is to ensure that activities within airport premises are conducted in a manner that protects the safety, security and welfare of passengers.

FAAN has also cited concerns surrounding accountability for vehicles operating within the airport.

Under the arrangement, airport-approved taxi operators are expected to meet certain requirements, including vehicle standards. FAN says vehicles operating under the scheme must not be older than 2012.

The authority has also indicated that discussions were held with e-hailing companies over operating arrangements at the airport, but that agreements were not reached with some of the operators.

FAAN further points to financial contributions made by airport-based car-hire operators, who pay for the privilege of operating within the airport environment.

This has become a major part of the controversy, with critics questioning whether the financial obligations imposed on airport taxi operators are contributing to the significantly higher fares passengers are being asked to pay.

Some commentators argue that if airport taxi operators are required to pay substantial levies or fees to operate within the airport, those costs could ultimately be passed on to passengers.

They say the solution should not be to eliminate competition but to create a system where regulated airport taxis and private e-hailing companies can operate alongside each other under clearly defined safety standards.

The debate has also raised concerns about Nigeria's approach to competition and consumer protection.

Critics say passengers arriving at an international airport should have reasonable access to different transportation options, particularly in an era when app-based transportation has become standard in many countries.

Travellers have also pointed to examples from other parts of the world where e-hailing platforms operate at airports while still complying with security, identification and vehicle regulations.

The controversy comes at a time when Nigerians are already dealing with significant increases in the cost of transportation and other essential services.

For many travellers, paying as much as ₦30,000 for a relatively short trip from the Lagos airport has raised questions about affordability and whether the current system is providing value for money.

Some users have reportedly expressed their dissatisfaction through reviews of the designated airport transportation application, accusing the system of creating a monopoly and leaving passengers with little choice.

FAN, however, maintains that its objective is regulation rather than eliminating Uber, Bolt or other e-hailing platforms.

The authority says the broader issue is how transportation services can operate within a sensitive aviation environment while maintaining safety, accountability and proper regulation.

The controversy now puts the spotlight on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and e-hailing operators to find common ground.

For passengers, the demand is straightforward: safe transportation, fair pricing and genuine choice.

As Nigeria seeks to modernise its aviation and transportation systems, travellers say regulation should not come at the expense of affordability or competition.

The question now is whether FAN and the e-hailing companies can reach an arrangement that protects airport security while allowing passengers to access convenient and reasonably priced transportation services.