Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has dismissed viral claims that it mandated airport taxi operators to replace their vehicles with 2020 model cars, clarifying that the actual requirement is for drivers to register on the new Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS) and that vehicles manufactured from 2012 onwards are acceptable for operations. The clarification, issued on Friday, 10 July 2026, followed a viral video showing some airport cab drivers appealing to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians to intervene, alleging that FAAN had introduced a policy compelling them to purchase vehicles valued at between N18 million and N30 million despite the prevailing economic hardship.
In the viral video, one of the drivers, speaking in Yoruba, urged Nigerians and President Tinubu to intervene, stating that the approved cars cost as much as N18 million, which is way above their means. The driver also alleged that the authority planned to introduce an app for airport taxi operations and pleaded with officials to draw the President's attention to their plight. The video generated mixed reactions on social media, with some users faulting the policy while others argued that airport taxi operators should improve the quality of their vehicles. One user questioned how drivers could afford vehicles estimated to cost between N20 million and N30 million without access to affordable loans, while another argued that the policy was justified, saying that airport taxi operators charge premium rates but often provide substandard service.
Responding to the controversy, FAAN's Director of Commercial and Business Development, Ms Adebola Agunbiade, said the claims were false and did not reflect the authority's policy. She explained that the footage showed planned resistance by car hire operators who refused to register on the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System, and that the incident was not related to any policy regarding vehicle model year. Agunbiade further stated that it is incorrect to say that FAAN asked drivers to change their vehicles to a minimum of the 2020 model because of the introduction of ACHRAMS, noting that one of the conditions laid down by the Authority for registration on the app is that drivers must operate vehicles manufactured in 2012 or above.
The FAAN director disclosed that the vehicle standard had been communicated to operators since 2024, with an initial compliance deadline of January 1, 2026, which was later extended to June before being shifted again to October 1, 2026, to allow more operators sufficient time to comply. FAAN also defended its decision to raise the operational tariff from ₦500 to ₦1,500, a figure it said had remained unchanged for over eight years despite inflation and rising costs. The authority said the policy was introduced to improve reliability, comfort, safety, and overall passenger satisfaction, adding that passengers deserved clean, roadworthy, comfortable, and professionally maintained vehicles that reflect the premium environment expected of a modern international airport.
Agunbiade also dismissed reports that the authority planned to remove about 60 per cent of existing airport taxi drivers to make way for new entrants under the digital platform. She explained that FAAN is not planning to clear only 60 per cent of existing drivers to pave the way for ACHRAMS, but rather the intention is to clear all drivers, provided they comply with the laid-down standards. She further stated that virtually all existing airport car hire operators at the Murtala Muhammed Airport had already been cleared to operate on the platform, except for two companies whose union allegedly instructed them not to participate in the initiative and instead develop independent applications. According to Agunbiade, the drivers featured in the viral video were likely members of those companies, while many other operators outside the National Union of Private Cab Operators had embraced the new system and were already participating in its pilot phase.
Agunbiade also addressed concerns raised by e-hailing drivers who feared they would be denied access to airport operations following the rollout of ACHRAMS. She explained that FAAN was concluding agreements with Bolt and Uber to integrate their platforms into ACHRAMS, adding that once the agreements were finalised, both companies would continue operating within the airports under the new framework. The FAAN director's clarification comes after weeks of protests by airport cab drivers who have appealed to the Federal Government to suspend the authority's directive, saying they cannot afford the new policy amid the country's economic challenges. As the October 1, 2026, deadline approaches, FAAN has maintained that with more than two years of advance notice and multiple deadline extensions, operators have had sufficient time to prepare.
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