Days after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) suspended the operations of taxi-hailing apps in federal airports, users have been introduced to a new app called FAANTaxi, or FAAN
Days after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) suspended the operations of taxi-hailing apps in federal airports, users have been introduced to a new app called FAANTaxi, or FAAN Car Hire.
Upon closer inspection, you will notice that the app was developed by the Excelian Group for ACHRAMS, a system which the FAAN describes as an airport access and concession fee collection tool.
In a recent press statement following the airport taxi debacle, FAAN clarified a misconception regarding the ACHRAMS-owned platform and its place at the airports. The agency explained that the platform is not an e-hailing platform.
“ACHRAMS is not an e-hailing application and is not intended to compete with or replicate the services provided by Uber, Bolt or any other e-hailing platform. It was developed primarily to provide operational visibility and tracking within the airport environment, while also facilitating seamless and accountable management of applicable concession and related airport charges,” the authority said.
But how true is FAAN’s claim?
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Is ACHRAMS operating like a taxi-hailing app?ACHRAMS, which FAAN says is only a regulatory tool, is operating exactly like an e-hailing app. First, it introduced an app called the FAAN Car Hire (FAANTaxi), complete with the ACHRAMS logo. The app, currently on the App Store for passengers to download, is described as “providing FAAN-approved airport rides”.
If the system is just a regulatory tool for the airport Authority to manage transportation, the question is why does it have a passenger app downloadable by the public?
Yet, the app describes itself as an “Official Airport Car Hire“.
Furthermore, just like every other e-hailing app, the FAAN Car Hire has both a passenger app and a driver app where drivers can register their cars. Indeed, the tag on this driver app is: Earn with ACHRAMS. This denotes a platform that pays drivers for using its platform.
FAAN Car Hire app operated by ACHRAMSAnd the app has been known to book rides, take on trips, set fares and accept payments. A Twitter user, Eloho Johnson, who purportedly used the app, complained about the fare on the app being high and questioned why Uber and Bolt were banned just to hoist an expensive platform.
“FAAN is banning Uber at airports and launching its own app, ‘FAANTaxi’, only for them to be quoting ₦30,000 for a trip from Ikeja Airport to Radisson Hotel in the same Ikeja????!!!! Meanwhile, an Uber ride for that distance doesn’t exceed ₦8,000. A whole ₦30,000 for a one-way trip just within Ikeja? APC!!!!,” the user noted.
Similarly, other reviews on the App Store point to the same, with a reviewer, Christopher Okorie, noting that the price is three times what obtains on Uber and Bolt. So why is an airport management tool setting fares for airport taxi operators like Uber, Bolt and other apps?
Read also:Uber and Bolt airport ban: FAAN assures of speedy resolution
Will Uber, Bolt and others return to the airport?In its statement to address the suspension of Uber and Bolt from airport operations, FAAN said it was keen to see the discussions concluded expeditiously and is currently engaged in constructive discussions towards resolving the outstanding issues with the operators.
But the attending launch of a new app does indicate an intention to resolve the impasse soon, except there is a serious pushback from users.
But, there is a few observed details about this new app:
First, the ACHRAMS platform is focused on drivers, not companies. While it does not exclude drivers from operating on other platforms, it is mandatory to use the platform to operate within the airport premises.
Uber Go vehicles Secondly, there is a serious demand gap that the new app does not address. While passengers can use it to get to their destinations from the airport, the drivers are not guaranteed a return trip, as travellers do not have to use it to get to the airport.
The e-hailing apps themselves appear to have figured this out and are not as excited as everyone else over the matter. Indeed, a top executive of one of the apps told this reporter that it is very doubtful that they would renew their concession with FAAN.
