‘We’ve no hand in Uber’s exit’ – FAAN opens up on disputes with e-hailing firms

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has denied claims that it was responsible for Uber’s decision to discontinue its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria.

Speaking on Friday, FAAN Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, said the company’s exit was based on its own economic and regulatory considerations, stressing that the authority had no role in the decision.

“I can’t speak to Uber’s exit from Nigeria. I am sure they have their own economic and regulatory decisions as to why they chose to exit,” Kuku said.

She noted that FAAN’s primary concern has always been passenger safety and ensuring a seamless travel experience at Nigerian airports.

Kuku further disclosed that FAAN received numerous complaints from passengers, particularly during the December holiday period, regarding poor experiences involving some e-hailing and car-hire services.

The complaints, she said, ranged from intimidation and excessive charges to passengers being taken to locations other than their intended destinations.

She added that FAAN also had disagreements with some e-hailing companies over liability issues and the management of dedicated pickup zones at airports.

According to her, while FAAN agreed to provide dedicated pickup areas for e-hailing services, it also insisted that the companies should take responsibility for the conduct of drivers operating under their platforms.

“One of the things we struggled with was liability. They wanted dedicated pickup zones, which we agreed to, but when it came to taking responsibility for drivers, they maintained that the drivers were independent contractors and not employees of Uber.

“That created a major concern for us because of the safety issues being reported by passengers,” she stated.

Kuku further explained that the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System, ACHRAMS, was introduced to provide visibility and accountability within airport transportation services.

She stressed that FAAN does not collect money on behalf of drivers and does not determine whether passengers use e-hailing services or airport car-hire operators.

“The choice remains with the passenger. Our responsibility is simply to ensure that those operating within the airport environment can be identified and monitored for safety purposes,” she added.