Car hire drivers operating at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and domestic terminals in Lagos have expressed distress over a new directive from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). The directive stipulates that only vehicles manufactured from the year 2020 onwards will be permitted to operate as taxis at the airports.
Drivers voice concerns over costly new rule
In a video circulating on social media, one of the affected drivers lamented that the approved cars cost as much as N18 million, a sum far beyond their financial reach. He alleged that the policy is designed to push them out of business, allowing a select group to introduce their own fleet of vehicles for airport taxi services.
“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,” the driver said in the video.
Impact on livelihoods
The drivers argue that the new FAAN regulation will severely impact their ability to earn a living, given the high cost of newer vehicles. Many of them rely on older models that are still roadworthy but now face exclusion. The policy has sparked fears of job losses and increased hardship in an already challenging economic climate.
As of now, FAAN has not issued an official statement clarifying the rationale behind the directive or addressing the drivers' concerns. The video has garnered widespread attention on social media, with many Nigerians calling for a review of the policy to consider the drivers' plight.
