The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the immediate introduction of a hybrid payment system at airport access gates across Nigeria, allowing both cash and electronic payments as authorities work towards a fully automated system.
The directive followed the earlier suspension of the full cashless access gate payment system by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after the policy triggered severe traffic congestion around several airports.
The decision was announced after the minister held a high-level meeting in Abuja on Tuesday with officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and senior officials of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to review the operational challenges encountered during the initial implementation of the cashless system.
According to a statement issued by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the government resolved to adopt a temporary hybrid payment arrangement while plans for a more efficient automated solution are being developed.
Under the new directive, the hybrid system accommodating both cash and electronic payments will resume at all airport access gates nationwide beginning Friday, March 13, 2026.
Moshood explained that motorists who already possess the FAAN Go Cashless Cards would continue to use them until further notice, adding that other electronic payment channels such as Point of Sale (POS) terminals and approved digital platforms would also remain operational.
“The Ministry has resolved to engage concessionaires in order to introduce a fully automated or electronic system at all access gates at our airports in order to fully and eventually eliminate cash payments,” the statement noted.
The minister emphasised that the long-term goal remains a seamless and entirely electronic gate access payment system, but the immediate priority is to restore order and ease vehicular movement around airport entrances.
The initial roll-out of the fully cashless payment system had been introduced by FAAN as part of broader efforts to modernise airport operations, reduce revenue leakages, and align Nigeria’s airport management practices with global standards.
However, the policy sparked widespread complaints from motorists and airport users who reported long queues and heavy traffic around entry points, particularly at major gateways such as the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Industry observers noted that the congestion was largely caused by inadequate payment infrastructure, limited public awareness, and the slow processing speed of electronic transactions at the gates.
Following the disruption, President Tinubu directed aviation authorities to suspend the full cashless arrangement and review its implementation to ensure that airport access remained smooth and efficient.
By restoring a hybrid system while pursuing full automation, the Ministry aims to balance technological modernisation with operational practicality, ensuring that airport users are not subjected to unnecessary delays.
The government has therefore urged members of the public and regular airport road users to obtain and utilise the FAAN Go Cashless Card as the authority continues efforts to enhance and fully optimise the electronic payment system at airport access gates nationwide.
Officials say further improvements, including upgraded technology, enhanced payment channels and stronger engagement with concessionaires, are expected to pave the way for a complete transition to a modern, fully automated gate payment system in the future.
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