Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has firmly dismissed widespread speculation that the agency's recent operational restrictions played any role in Uber's decision to abruptly end its 12-year ride-hailing operations in Nigeria. Speaking on Friday, September 4, 2026, Kuku clarified that FAAN's primary responsibility is passenger safety and a seamless travel experience, not the business decisions of private companies.
Uber officially wound down its services in Nigeria on September 2, 2026, citing a "thorough review of its business" and shifting global investment priorities. The announcement came weeks after FAAN temporarily suspended e-hailing platforms, including Uber and Bolt, from operating commercially at its airports pending the finalisation of licence agreements. This timing led many to conclude that the ban was the final straw for the struggling ride-hailing giant.
However, Kuku insisted that FAAN's actions were driven by a surge in passenger complaints and security concerns, not a desire to push out any particular company. "I work for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and my first responsibility is to ensure that our passengers are safe, protected, and have a seamless passenger experience," she stated. She emphasised that FAAN received a flood of complaints, particularly during the December holiday period, about "very terrible experiences" involving both e-hailing and car-hire services. These complaints ranged from intimidation and passenger extortion to drivers dropping passengers at unintended locations.
The FAAN boss also alleged that some Uber and Bolt drivers exploited the system by posing as legitimate e-hailing operators before colluding with airport car-hire drivers to charge passengers inflated fares. "We did have situations where some of the Uber and Bolt drivers would get down from their cars under the guise of coming into the airport as e-hailing drivers, and they would join the car hires to charge higher fares," Kuku explained. This behaviour, coupled with widespread touting, made regulatory oversight necessary.
A major point of contention between FAAN and e-hailing companies was the issue of liability. According to Kuku, FAAN agreed to provide dedicated pick-up zones for the platforms but insisted they take corporate responsibility for the conduct and safety of drivers using their apps. The companies, however, maintained that their drivers are independent contractors, not employees. "They wanted the passengers to use in-app safety features instead of taking corporate responsibility, and we had a major issue with that," Kuku said.
Refuting claims that FAAN's policies pushed Uber out, Kuku stressed that the airport environment represents only a minor fraction of the company's business in Nigeria. "I can’t speak to their exit from Nigeria. I’m sure they have their own economic and regulatory decisions as to why they chose to exit," she said. She added that she knew Uber had "been considering exiting Nigeria for a while," which she suggested was the reason FAAN had a "stumbling point" with them. "It has nothing to do with FAAN," she declared.
Kuku also addressed the controversy surrounding the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS), an app introduced by FAAN to improve transparency. Critics had speculated that the authority was using the app to monopolise airport transport and drive out competitors. Kuku dismissed this, explaining that the app was "strictly focused on ensuring that passengers have visibility into who the car-hire companies are and who the driver taking them from Point A to Point B is". She stressed that FAAN does not collect money on behalf of drivers and that passengers remain free to choose between pre-booking cars, using e-hailing apps, or using car-hire services.
The clarification from FAAN aligns with Uber's own statements. The company had previously clarified that its exit was "not related to the recent FAAN directive concerning e-hailing operations at Nigerian airports". Instead, the decision was part of a broader global restructuring that saw Uber cut 10 per cent of its workforce and redirect capital towards core businesses like delivery and autonomous vehicles. For years, Uber had struggled with Nigeria's harsh macroeconomic realities, including currency volatility, high inflation, and a cash-based economy that clashed with its strict cashless policy.
As the dust settles on Uber's departure, the debate over the true cause of its exit continues. While the company's global strategy and local economic challenges were clearly significant factors, the FAAN controversy has highlighted deeper issues of regulation, passenger safety, and corporate accountability in Nigeria's rapidly evolving e-hailing market. For now, the airport authority has made its position unmistakably clear: FAAN did not drive Uber out. The ride-hailing giant, it insists, made its own choice.
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