Airport Taxi Drivers Protest FAAN Approval of Only 2020 and Newer Vehicles

Taxi drivers operating at the local and international wings of Lagos airports have raised concerns over an alleged directive requiring only vehicles manufactured from 2020 onward to operate within the airport premises.

The drivers claimed the policy, which they attributed to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), could force many of them out of business because they cannot afford to replace their current vehicles.

In a video circulating on social media, one of the drivers alleged that vehicles meeting the purported requirement cost as much as ₦18 million, an amount he said is beyond the reach of many airport cab operators.

The drivers further alleged that the move is aimed at displacing existing operators to pave the way for a new fleet of taxis owned by other interests.

Appealing for government intervention, the drivers urged President Bola Tinubu to look into the matter, insisting that many families depend on the business for their livelihood.

“Please help us so our cry can get to Tinubu. They want to push us out of business. There is no job in Nigeria at the moment. They want to push us out of business just for their own retirement. They want to bring in their own vehicles,” one of the drivers said in the viral video.

As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has not issued an official statement confirming or denying the existence of the alleged directive.

The claims by the drivers remain unverified pending an official response from the airport authority.