The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that Uber’s exit from the Nigerian market is entirely unrelated to the newly introduced Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS).
Speaking to newsmen in Lagos, FAAN Managing Director Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku stated that Uber’s withdrawal was driven by the company’s internal economic and regulatory considerations.
She noted that airport trips accounted for only a small fraction of Uber’s broader business, which falls outside FAAN’s jurisdiction.
Why ACHRAMS Was Introduced
Driver Visibility: ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing app, but a tracking system designed to verify car-hire companies and individual drivers operating within airport grounds.
Passenger Safety: The platform was launched following widespread complaints during the peak December holiday season, including driver intimidation, unauthorized drop-off points, and fare gouging.
Touting Control: Kuku highlighted that some e-hailing drivers would abandon their apps upon entering the airport to join informal car-hire ranks and demand inflated rates.
Disagreements over Driver Liability
A major sticking point between FAAN and e-hailing platforms involved driver accountability:
Dedicated Pick-Up Zones: FAAN agreed to allocate designated spaces for e-hailing pick-ups.
Platform Responsibility: FAAN demanded that e-hailing platforms accept direct liability for driver behavior and safety.
The Standoff: E-hailing firms refused, classifying drivers as independent contractors and directing passengers to rely solely on in-app safety features, a compromise FAAN found unacceptable.
Kuku emphasised that passengers retain full freedom to choose their transport mode, including pre-booked rides, traditional car hires, or active e-hailing platforms.
She reiterated that ACHRAMS was created solely to enforce security standards, not to restrict consumer choice or drive e-hailing operators out of the market.
