President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate suspension of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s (FAAN) new cashless payment policy after it precipitated severe traffic congestion and delays at airports across the country.
The directive, conveyed to Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, came four days after FAAN rolled out the policy, which banned cash payments at FAAN-controlled points including toll gates, car parks and executive lounges. The policy, dubbed “Operation Go Cashless,” took effect on March 1.
The measure sparked long vehicle queues and gridlock at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and other major hubs. Motorists who had not obtained prepaid cards or who encountered point-of-sale failures were unable to enter airport premises; several passengers were reported stranded or to have missed flights.
Hours before the suspension order, Minister Keyamo had publicly defended the initiative on X (formerly Twitter), saying the government was “determined to end the practice of collecting cash at our gates.” He wrote that he and his team would review the first week of the rollout and expected improvements as the system matured.
FAAN had announced four digital payment channels for gate access: the FAAN Go Cashless Card, an e‑tag for frequent users, a VIP sticker for authorised vehicles, and ATM/debit card payments via on-site POS terminals. The authority said Go Cashless cards could be obtained at commercial offices and access gates or by registering online through a dedicated portal.
The policy, launched in partnership with Paystack and first announced in September 2025, was piloted at major airports. FAAN said the system was intended to make transactions “faster, safer and more convenient,” and projected up to a 75% revenue increase through greater transparency and reduced cash handling.
But on Monday, motorists reported slow POS processing and banking network problems that created long delays and traffic bottlenecks extending beyond airport perimeters. Several travellers told reporters they were turned back or missed flights because they could not complete payments.
FAAN posted details of the payment channels on its X handle, noting that ATM/debit card transactions via POS “may vary due to banking network issues.” The authority did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the suspension order.
The Presidency has yet to release a full statement explaining the decision or outlining next steps for implementing a revised system. Transport stakeholders and frequent airport users have called for clearer public communication and contingency arrangements in any future rollout.
