Airport Cab Operators Seek Extension As FAAN Vehicle Deadline Looms
More than 300 jobs in Nigeria’s airport cab-hire sector could be at risk as operators struggle to meet the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s October 2026 deadline for replacing vehicles manufactured before 2012.
The Chairman of the Airport Cab Operators, Prince Amosola, said the 17 licensed car-hire companies operating at the airports were finding it difficult to comply with the vehicle replacement requirement because of the high cost of acquiring newer vehicles.
Amosola said a 2012 vehicle currently costs between N15m and N18m, making it financially difficult for operators to replace their existing fleets within the stipulated period.
He added that each of the 17 companies operates more than 50 vehicles, but FAAN had directed them to reduce their fleets to 30 vehicles per company while also enforcing the age requirement.
The operators have consequently appealed to FAAN and other relevant authorities for additional time, arguing that the transition should be implemented gradually to enable them raise funds and replace their older vehicles.
Amosola said the operators were also exploring electric vehicles following discussions with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, but noted that the cost remained beyond the reach of most businesses.
According to him, an electric vehicle could cost as much as N38m, further increasing the financial burden on operators.
The operators warned that a strict implementation of the October deadline could force some businesses to shut down and leave drivers and other workers dependent on the sector without jobs.
A representative of Edom Comfort Auto Lease Ltd, Ekwuemeaku Alex, said airport cab operators were already operating under difficult economic conditions, with revenue from trips often insufficient to cover their expenses.
He explained that while an operator could earn between N20,000 and N25,000 from a trip, fuel and other operating expenses could reduce the amount available to the driver to about N10,000.
Alex also noted that airport cab operators differed from e-hailing services because they often returned to the airport without passengers after dropping customers in town, leaving them without a return-trip income.
Another operator, Alhaji Sulieman Maman of Leviticus Auto Car Service Ltd, said the operators were not opposed to upgrading their vehicles but objected to what they described as the abrupt implementation of the policy.
Maman said previous changes to vehicle requirements had been introduced gradually, giving operators sufficient time to dispose of older vehicles and acquire replacements.
He also expressed concern that the addition of more cab companies had increased competition for the limited number of passengers available at the airports.
Representing Giant Motors Ltd, Gbenga Kolawole, meanwhile, rejected claims that airport cab operators were charging excessive fares.
He explained that fares varied according to the category of vehicle used, ranging from standard cars to executive vehicles and SUVs, while rising fuel prices and airport-related charges had increased the cost of providing the service.
The operators also raised concerns about the impact of the policy on vehicles converted under the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas initiative.
The Secretary-General of the Coalition of 17 Car-Hire Companies, Emmanuel Ikeh, said about 80 per cent of the operators’ vehicles had been converted under the CNG programme introduced by the Federal Government to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal.
He claimed that more than 99 per cent of the vehicles converted under the scheme did not meet FAAN’s proposed requirement for vehicles manufactured in 2012 or later.
The operators said they had written several letters to FAAN and held meetings with officials to explain the implications of the policy but had yet to receive what they considered a satisfactory response.
They also complained about increased airport cab-related charges, saying the operational tariff had risen from N500 to N1,500.
However, FAAN maintained that the vehicle replacement requirement was not new, stating that it had been communicated to operators since July 2024.
The authority said operators had been granted several extensions, including deadlines in January and June 2026, before the final October 2026 deadline was established.
FAAN has warned that operators who fail to meet the requirements could lose access to airport operations. The authority also clarified that it deals directly with registered corporate cab companies rather than third-party unions or associations.
With the deadline drawing closer, the airport cab operators are seeking further engagement and an extended transition period, warning that immediate enforcement could result in business closures, stranded investments and job losses across the sector.
