Nigerian Taxi Operators Seek Extension on Vehicle Policy

Airport taxi operators across Nigeria have formally appealed to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for an extension on the compliance deadline of its 2012 vehicle policy, which requires the use of 2012 model vehicles. The appeal was made by Mr.

Charl Odofin, chairman of the International Terminal Zone, in a letter to FAAN's managing director. The operators are facing significant financial pressures that make it challenging to acquire newer vehicles.

They are requesting an extension until December 2026, allowing an additional 12 months to comply with the vehicle requirements, which are currently set to be enforced by June 2027. Less than five percent of the operators have been able to acquire the mandated vehicles due to high costs.

The operators have also disclosed that they are negotiating with several financial institutions for vehicle financing. This situation mirrors a similar occurrence in 2007 when FAAN granted a 24-month implementation period for operators to replace older vehicles.

The operators are also interested in adopting electric vehicles but require additional time to build the necessary capacity.