FAAN Says New Airport Car Hire System Will Not Displace Existing Drivers

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured airport car hire operators that the proposed Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS) will not displace existing drivers but is intended to modernise and improve ground transportation services at airports across the country. The assurance was given by FAAN's Director of Commercial and Business Development, Mrs Adebola Agunbiade, amid concerns raised by traditional airport taxi operators.

Agunbiade explained that the app-based system is designed to address long-standing challenges in airport car hire services, including poor coordination, inconsistent service quality and security concerns. According to her, ACHRAMS will provide a technology-driven platform that promotes safer, more efficient and transparent transport services for airport users while supporting the Federal Government's cashless policy.

She disclosed that the project is being implemented as a 10-year concession and that existing airport car hire operators remain central to its operation. Rather than replacing current drivers, FAAN intends to register as many compliant operators as possible, enabling them to continue serving passengers through the new digital platform. She dismissed reports that the authority planned to remove more than 60 per cent of existing drivers, describing such claims as false.

The director further clarified that the authority had not directed drivers to replace their vehicles with 2020 models as widely alleged. Instead, she said the requirement is for vehicles manufactured from 2012 onwards, a policy communicated to operators since 2024. The compliance deadline, originally set for January 2026 and later June 2026, has now been extended to 1 October 2026 to give operators more time to comply.

Agunbiade also revealed that FAAN is finalising agreements with ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Bolt, which will integrate their services into the new platform. She maintained that the initiative is aimed at improving safety, convenience, service quality and transparent pricing for passengers while ensuring that airport transport operators benefit from a more organised and efficient system.