By: Sunday Ameh
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to immediately suspend its newly introduced cashless policy following widespread traffic congestion at major airports across the country.
The minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed the president’s directive while briefing journalists after the federal executive council meeting presided over by Tinubu on Wednesday.
The suspension comes barely four days after FAAN rolled out the policy on March 1, mandating digital payments via ‘Go Cashless’ cards and point-of-sale (POS) systems at airport toll gates, parking areas, lounges, and other access points — effectively ending over five decades of cash collections.
However, the implementation triggered severe gridlock at key facilities, including Murtala Muhammed International Airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Motorists were caught in long queues, with several passengers reportedly missing scheduled flights.
Keyamo said the president expressed deep concern over the hardship faced by Nigerians and ordered an immediate halt to the system pending a comprehensive review.
According to him, Tinubu directed the ministry and FAAN to “go back to the drawing board” and develop a more efficient and passenger-friendly model that preserves revenue transparency while ensuring smooth access to airports.
He explained that although the cashless initiative was introduced to curb corruption and optimise federal revenue, its rollout had inadvertently caused nationwide disruptions.
The minister announced a temporary return to the previous system, with a hybrid approach for those who had already obtained FAAN cards. Under the interim arrangement, cash payments will resume while cardholders can continue to use their cards.
Keyamo also disclosed plans to engage private sector operators to develop and manage a more seamless electronic payment system, noting that the president is open to commission-based partnerships to ensure efficiency without compromising service delivery.
He stressed that the president’s decision was not an endorsement of the old cash-based system but an empathetic move to ease the suffering currently being experienced by airport users, particularly in Lagos.
Earlier in the day, the minister had indicated that his team would review the first seven days of the policy’s implementation to address operational lapses and enhance effectiveness before the presidential intervention.
Leave a Reply