The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has cleared Bolt to immediately resume operations at airports managed by the authority, following concerns over the temporary disruption of e-hailing services.

In a statement on Thursday, FAAN said the decision followed constructive engagements with Bolt that resulted in an agreed operational framework for e-hailing services at the airports.

The authority apologised to passengers for the inconvenience and increased transportation costs experienced during the interruption, stressing that its actions were driven by regulatory, safety and security considerations rather than economic interests.

FAAN said it is also engaging other e-hailing operators and expects the outstanding discussions to be concluded in the coming days.

The authority explained that it has been working for nearly a decade to address challenges associated with commercial and e-hailing vehicles at airports, including passenger solicitation, touting, unregulated operations and random pick-ups.

It said the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS) was introduced to improve the management and visibility of commercial transportation within the airport environment.

FAAN clarified that ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and was never designed to compete with Uber, Bolt or other mobility platforms.

It also dismissed concerns that the airport taxi fares recently highlighted in public discussions were newly imposed by FAAN or introduced through ACHRAMS.

According to the authority, the fares existed independently of ACHRAMS and were not substantially different from rates previously applicable to airport taxis.

“WHAT ACHRAMS INTRODUCED was greater visibility and transparency around the prevailing airport-taxi rates,” FAAN said.

The authority acknowledged that the comparison between the airport taxi fares and the lower prices passengers had become accustomed to through e-hailing platforms understandably generated public concern.

FAAN reiterated that passengers are free to choose from available transportation options, provided the services operate within a safe, secure and orderly airport environment.

The authority said the safety, security, convenience and overall experience of passengers remain central to its decisions.