The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has denied claims that its recent disagreement with Uber over airport operations was responsible for the ride-hailing company’s decision to leave Nigeria.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said Uber itself had attributed its withdrawal from Nigeria and Uganda to a review of its business priorities and investment strategy across Africa.
Agbebire said the claim that FAAN forced Uber out of Nigeria was misleading, noting that Uber had clearly stated that its departure was unrelated to FAAN’s recent directive on e-hailing operations at Nigerian airports.
According to him, Uber’s challenges in Nigeria predated the current airport dispute and included regulatory requirements, driver welfare, data sharing, passenger safety and accountability.
He pointed to Lagos State’s experience with the company, saying the state had introduced regulations covering driver identification, safety standards, operational requirements and access to trip information.
Agbebire also highlighted longstanding concerns among Nigerian ride-hailing drivers over commissions, fares, fuel costs, deactivations, insecurity and working conditions. He said such challenges had contributed to protests and threats of coordinated shutdowns.
He further noted that some drivers had resorted to taking passengers offline, a practice prohibited under Uber’s rules. Such activities, he said, could undermine passenger protection, regulatory oversight and platform accountability.
On airport operations, Agbebire explained that FAAN’s position was not aimed at preventing Nigerians from using ride-hailing services. Rather, the authority wanted commercial transport operators within airport premises to be properly identified, regulated and accountable.
He cited Bolt as an example, noting that the company was allowed to resume airport operations after engaging with FAAN and resolving outstanding operational issues.
Agbebire said this demonstrated that FAAN’s objective was not to eliminate e-hailing services but to ensure that they operate safely and responsibly within airport environments.
He urged Nigerians to focus on why Uber decided that Nigeria no longer fit its investment priorities rather than blaming FAAN for the company’s departure.
“Uber is leaving because Uber has decided to leave,” he said, stressing that FAAN does not compete with Uber or operate a ride-hailing business.
According to him, FAAN’s responsibility is to ensure that activities within Nigerian airports remain safe, secure, orderly and accountable.
He added that Uber’s departure could create opportunities for other ride-hailing companies willing to invest in Nigeria, comply with regulations, support drivers and operate responsibly.
Agbebire concluded that Nigeria’s mobility market remains attractive, with millions of passengers and drivers still relying on ride-hailing services.
He said the experience had demonstrated that while technology could connect passengers with drivers, responsibility for maintaining safety and accountability within Nigerian airports could not be outsourced.
.jpeg)
_1735284064925.jpg "Zainab ambato gani a so free Download")
_1.jpeg "Tarihin fir'auna da Annabi Musa (AS)")
0 Comment about the Post: