The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has refuted claims linking the aviation agency to Uber’s decision to exit the Nigerian market.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Friday, September 4, 2026, Kuku clarified that the e-hailing giant’s departure was motivated by its own internal commercial and regulatory considerations, rather than policies enforced at the country’s airports.
​Addresses by the FAAN boss highlighted that airport grounds represent only a small fraction of ride-hailing operations nationwide. She noted that regulatory friction between the agency and e-hailing providers stemmed primarily from passenger safety concerns, accountability, and persistent airport touting, rather than operational restrictions.
FAAN agreed to provide e-hailing services with dedicated pickup zones. However, talks stalled because platforms classified drivers as independent contractors, declining direct liability for safety incidents and instructing passengers to rely exclusively on in-app security features.
The agency received numerous passenger complaints, particularly during the peak December holiday travel season, ranging from fare inflation and verbal intimidation to passengers being dropped off at unauthorized locations.
FAAN observed instances where e-hailing drivers abandoned their vehicles upon entering terminal precincts to act as unlicenced car-hire operators, charging inflated rates and contributing to landside touting.
To curb security risks, FAAN launched the Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS), an app-based verification tool designed to track drivers operating within airport boundaries without collecting passenger fares or restricting transport choices.
​”For Uber, I cannot speak to their exit from Nigeria; I am sure they have their own economic and regulatory decisions as to why they chose to leave,” Kuku stated. “I know that they had been considering exiting Nigeria for a while, which is why we had a stumbling point with them.
My primary responsibility is to ensure passengers are safe, protected, and provided a seamless experience while within our airport jurisdiction.”
