President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate suspension of the newly introduced cashless payment system at federal airports, following reports of severe traffic congestion and passengers missing flights.
The directive was announced by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja. Keyamo said the President acted out of concern for the welfare of Nigerians, noting that the system’s rollout had created bottlenecks that left travelers stranded for hours.
“Many passengers were losing their flights due to gridlock, especially at Lagos and Abuja airports,” Keyamo said. “Out of empathy, the President directed an immediate return to the previous system while a more efficient solution is developed.”
The cashless system, launched less than a week ago, required motorists to use prepaid cards or electronic platforms to access airport toll gates. While intended to curb revenue leakages and improve transparency at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the rollout instead triggered long delays and public frustration. Social media videos showed traffic stretching for kilometres, with travelers arriving hours earlier than usual to avoid missing flights.
Keyamo said a temporary hybrid system will now allow both cash payments and the use of existing FAAN cards while the ministry collaborates with private sector partners to develop a more effective cashless solution. “If commissions are necessary, we’ll pay them, but the goal is a seamless electronic system that doesn’t disrupt airport operations,” the minister added.
FAAN officials had initially justified the cashless policy as a measure to block decades of underremittance and fraud, promising real-time revenue tracking and more accountable collections. However, poor implementation and inadequate infrastructure exposed significant operational gaps.
The minister did not provide a specific timeline for the improved system but emphasised that the President wants the matter resolved urgently, ensuring that electronic payments can be introduced without causing disruption.
The suspension highlights the challenges of modernizing revenue collection at Nigeria’s busiest airports and signals a more cautious, phased approach to implementing nationwide cashless systems.
Tinubu Suspends Cashless Airport Payments After Massive Gridlock
