Airport Cab Operators Threaten Shutdown Over FAAN Policies
Cab operators at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, have threatened to suspend operations in nine days if the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) fails to reverse what they described as unfriendly policies affecting their businesses.
The operators, under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Private Cab Operators (NUPCO), said the planned action was in response to recent directives by FAAN, including a policy restricting the use of vehicles manufactured before 2012 from July 1, 2026.
National President of NUPCO, Mr Adeola Adepegba, who addressed journalists in Lagos, also faulted the increase in airport access charges imposed on operators, saying the tariff was raised from N500 to N1,500 despite transport fares remaining unchanged for about three years.
He warned that the increase would force operators to adjust their fares, thereby increasing the financial burden on passengers.
Adepegba also criticised FAAN’s move to introduce an app-based transport system for airport cab operations, arguing that the policy was introduced without adequate consultation with the union.
He maintained that NUPCO’s mandate covers airport-based car hire operations, while app-based transport services fall under a different category.
According to him, forcing members into an app-based system would undermine the union’s operations and threaten the livelihood of existing airport cab operators.
The NUPCO president further alleged that FAAN’s policies were aimed at reducing the number of existing operators by about 90 per cent and creating opportunities for other interests to take over airport transport services.
He appealed to the aviation authorities to reconsider the policies, noting that many operators were already struggling due to economic challenges and reduced patronage.
Meanwhile, the President of the Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA), an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Rufus Olusesan, expressed support for the cab operators and warned that organised labour could join the action if the dispute was not resolved.
Olusesan called on the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, to intervene and resolve the matter.
He said labour unions within the aviation sector would collaborate to ensure the concerns of the operators were addressed.
“We will mobilise both unions in the NLC and TUC to make sure that we ground this airport on July 1. We want to assure this union that the labour movement is solely behind you,” he said.
The unions urged FAAN to engage stakeholders and find a solution that would protect airport transport operators while maintaining standards in airport operations.
