Airport Operations and E-Hailing Competition
Airport services represent a significant and profitable business avenue for taxi operators in Lagos. This is primarily due to the high volume of international and domestic travelers passing through these ports, many of whom can afford premium services. E-hailing operators have also recognized this lucrative market, with numerous drivers frequenting airport vicinities to solicit passengers.
This influx of e-hailing services has frequently led to friction and disputes with registered traditional airport taxi operators. The latter argue that e-hailers are encroaching on their business and consequently reducing their earnings. Despite these conflicts, passenger preference appears to lean towards e-hailing services. Reports from 2024 indicated that following a suspension of airport taxis at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja due to internal clashes, travelers expressed a strong preference for e-hailing drivers over traditional airport taxis.
One traveler, who consistently chooses e-hailing services over airport taxis, commented on the ongoing disagreements: “They are giving Bolt and Uber guys wahala for that airport no be small. Honestly, the wahala is too much. Just arrange with one Bolt/Uber driver and call him when you arrive at the airport. When I call the Uber guy, he’ll just come as if we know each other and we move.”
Many passengers have urged the Federal Aviation Agency of Nigeria (FAAN) to permit e-hailing companies like Bolt and Uber to operate alongside airport taxis once traditional services resume. The hope is that increased competition will lead to a reduction in the high fares currently charged by airport taxis, which are often attributed to their monopolistic position.
E-Hailing Drivers' Concerns and FAAN's Response
E-hailing drivers themselves have advocated for the establishment of separate, dedicated taxi parks for their operations. They believe this would effectively resolve the ongoing disputes with airport taxi operators. While some argue that an e-hailing driver's app serves as their "park," FAAN has acknowledged these requests and made plans to designate parking spaces for e-hailing services.
Bolt Park at the Lagos Airport
In 2022, FAAN decided to allocate a parking space specifically for e-hailing drivers. However, a condition was set: e-hailing companies would be required to pay for these designated parks, as they represent the organizations that the drivers work for. Among the major ride-hailing companies operating in the region, only Bolt agreed to meet this financial requirement, thereby becoming the sole company to secure an official airport car park.
Access to this park is not solely based on payment; drivers must also complete a mandatory biometric screening and verification process. This involves visiting the Police Character Certificate Force at the Federal Criminal Investigative Department (FCID), Alagbon Police Division in Ikoyi, to undergo a fingerprint biometric check. Upon successful completion, drivers are issued a police character certificate, which they must then present to the Directorate of Aviation Security (AVSEC) for final approval.
The AVSEC will then issue an official identity card to the driver, signifying their final authorization to utilize the park and pick up passengers at the airport. This procedure mirrors the requirements already in place for traditional airport taxi operators.
Controversies Surrounding the Bolt Airport Park
The establishment of the Bolt taxi park has not been without its challenges and controversies. In 2024, FAAN initially issued a directive requiring e-hailing drivers to pay a fee of N45,000 for access to the park and associated airport taxi services. This proposal triggered significant protests from the drivers' union, the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON). Following these demonstrations, the proposed fee was ultimately shelved. Current reports indicate that, apart from the biometric data capture, drivers are no longer being charged for using the park.
A further controversy arose in the same year when Bolt was accused of mandating drivers using the airport park to wear Bolt-branded vests. This directive was met with resistance, particularly as drivers often operate on multiple platforms, including Uber, inDrive, and Rida. Drivers at the time viewed this as an insensitive attempt by Bolt to monopolize the car e-hailing market.
While some drivers loyal to Bolt complied with the vest requirement, a significant number chose not to. It is important to note that wearing a branded vest is not a mandatory condition for using the park, and drivers are permitted to enter and exit the facility regardless of their attire.