The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has denied responsibility for Uber’s decision to end its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria, saying the company’s exit was likely driven by its own economic and regulatory considerations.
Uber ended its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria on September 2, 2026, after 12 years in the country.
FAAN Managing Director, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, made the clarification on Friday on the sidelines of the second induction ceremony and unveiling of the montage of honourees at the Nigeria Aviation Hall of Fame in Lagos.
Kuku said FAAN had received complaints, particularly during the December holiday period, about poor experiences involving some e-hailing platforms and car-hire services operating at airports.
According to her, some passengers reported cases of intimidation, being charged higher fares and being dropped at destinations other than those they had requested.
She said FAAN also had disagreements with e-hailing companies over the responsibility of drivers and the provision of dedicated pick-up zones at airports.
“For Uber, I can’t speak to their exit from Nigeria. I am sure they have their own economic and regulatory decisions as to why they choose to exit,” Kuku said.
She explained that FAAN’s primary concern was passenger safety and ensuring a seamless experience for travellers using airport transportation services.
Kuku said FAAN had also observed instances where some Uber and Bolt drivers allegedly left their vehicles and joined airport car-hire operators to charge passengers higher fares.
She said the development contributed to complaints about touting at airports and prompted FAAN to introduce greater regulatory oversight of airport car-hire services.
According to her, the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS) was developed to provide passengers with visibility on registered car-hire companies and indicative fares for different destinations.
“FAAN does not collect money on behalf of the drivers. Those car-hire drivers are not FAAN drivers. All we do is to give you a sample of the rates based on the destination that you’re going to,” she said.
Kuku added that passengers remained free to choose between pre-booked vehicles, e-hailing services and airport car-hire operators.
She, however, said FAAN’s negotiations with e-hailing companies became difficult over liability for drivers.
She said while the companies requested dedicated airport pick-up zones, FAAN also wanted them to accept greater responsibility for the drivers using their platforms.
According to her, the companies maintained that the drivers were independent contractors rather than their employees, while directing passengers to use the safety features available on their respective platforms.
“We had a major issue with that,” Kuku said.
Why did Uber leave Nigeria?
Uber has not publicly attributed its September 2 exit to FAAN. The company’s withdrawal should therefore not be presented as a direct consequence of FAAN’s airport transportation policies.
The exit is better understood as a business decision shaped by Uber’s assessment of the Nigerian market, operating costs, regulatory environment and the economics of its ride-hailing business. FAAN’s comments specifically address airport-related disputes and passenger-safety concerns, rather than establishing a direct link between those issues and Uber’s nationwide exit.