Lagos airport taxi fares hit N30,000 as FAAN curbs e-hailing services
By Aboki Forex —
Travellers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos are paying up to N30,000 for short trips after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) restricted ride-hailing platforms Uber and Bolt from the airport precinct. A trip from the airport to Ikeja now costs N30,000 through airport taxis, compared with N6,000 on InDrive.
Passenger Chude said on X that airport taxis are extorting travellers. He wrote: "These new Lagos Airport taxis are just extorting travellers. They charged N30,000 from the airport to Ikeja (Radisson), while InDrive charged N6,000 for the same location."
FAAN denies blanket ban
FAAN has denied imposing a blanket ban on Uber and Bolt. The authority said the situation followed unauthorised signage and ongoing talks with operators over vehicle standards, passenger-tracking systems, and fare structures.
FAAN said it is working with operators to ensure compliance with the Airport Car Hire and Ride Management System (ACHRMS), a framework that regulates commercial transportation inside airport grounds.
Passengers demand intervention
Another traveller, Tosin, called on FAAN and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to step in. He said: "Why would you impose a single ride-hailing system on citizens of this nation without giving room to competition, thereby increasing our hardship?"
A third passenger told BusinessDay that congestion at the airport added to the pain. She said: "It took us almost three hours to leave the airport parking lot on Thursday."
Despite FAAN's clarification, TVC reports that travellers still face fewer transport options. Some now walk beyond the airport perimeter before booking e-hailing rides, while others use InDrive to avoid the high airport taxi fares.
What it means for consumers
The higher airport charges add to transport costs already rising across Nigeria. NBS data shows the average city bus fare rose to N1,431.25 in May 2026, up 2.43% from N1,397.27 in April 2026, and 38.63% higher than N1,032.46 in May 2025. Intercity bus fares also increased to N9,699.55 in May 2026, up 0.96% from the previous month.
For travellers and businesses relying on airport movement, the fare jump raises the cost of doing business and puts more pressure on household budgets.