Passengers using the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos have expressed concerns over sharply increased transport fares following restrictions affecting ride-hailing services within the airport premises.
Travellers say trips that previously cost between N6,000 and N8,000 on platforms such as Uber and Bolt can now cost as much as N30,000 through the new FAANTaxi service.
The development has triggered criticism from passengers and members of the public, particularly over concerns that reduced competition could leave travellers with fewer affordable transportation options.
A passenger identified as Chude on X said he was charged N30,000 for a journey from the airport to the Radisson Hotel in Ikeja, while the same trip cost N6,000 on InDrive.
“These new Lagos Airport taxis are just extorting travelers,” Chude wrote, comparing the two fares.
Another passenger, Tosin, appealed directly to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate the situation.
“Why would you impose a single ride-hailing system on citizens of this nation without giving room to competition thereby increasing our hardship?” Tosin said.
The complaints have also extended beyond fares, with some travellers alleging delays in getting out of the airport.
A passenger identified as Aunty Teda claimed it took almost three hours to leave the airport parking lot on a Thursday, while criticising FAAN’s approach to managing transportation services.
The reported fare disparity has prompted some travellers to seek alternatives by walking outside the airport premises before ordering ride-hailing services.
Others have turned to platforms such as InDrive, which they say offer significantly cheaper fares.
However, FAAN has denied imposing a blanket ban on Uber, Bolt and other ride-hailing operators at the airport.
The airport authority said the situation was connected to issues surrounding “unauthorised signage” and ongoing discussions with operators concerning vehicle standards, fares and passenger-tracking systems.
FAAN is also engaging operators over compliance with the Airport Car Hire and Ride Management System (ACHRMS), which is intended to regulate commercial transportation services operating within airport premises.
Despite FAAN’s explanation, the reported increase in fares has continued to fuel concerns among airport users, with passengers questioning whether efforts to improve safety, accountability and order should result in reduced competition and higher transportation costs.
The controversy has therefore renewed calls for FAAN and other relevant regulatory authorities to resolve their differences with ride-hailing operators and establish a system that balances safety and accountability with affordability and consumer choice.
Passengers say allowing healthy competition while maintaining appropriate regulatory standards would help prevent airport users from being forced to pay significantly higher fares for relatively short journeys.
