Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has declared that the Federal Government will not reverse the cashless payment policy at the country’s airports.
Keyamo made this known on Friday during an inspection visit to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where he assessed the newly introduced hybrid payment system currently being used.
According to him, the hybrid model was introduced after Bola Tinubu directed that the full implementation of the cashless system be temporarily suspended.
The minister explained that the arrangement allows travellers who already possess the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) cashless cards to continue using them, while others who have not yet obtained the cards can temporarily make payments with cash until the transition to a fully cashless system is completed.
Keyamo said the government reviewed the earlier approach to address concerns about revenue leakages and traffic congestion at airport toll points.
He noted that payments made through the FAAN cards are automatically transferred into the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which forms part of the federation account.
The aviation minister stressed that the cashless policy is irreversible, adding that the hybrid arrangement is only a temporary measure.
“This nation has gone beyond that stage. Those who think they can frustrate the cashless system because they prefer cash collection are mistaken. The hybrid system will only last for a short period,” he said.
Keyamo also reiterated the Federal Government’s directive that no government agency is allowed to collect payments in cash.
He further revealed that discussions are already underway with concessionaires who will help automate airport operations across the country.
According to him, the move is aimed at eliminating the long-standing cash-based payment system at Nigerian airports, which he said has existed for about five decades and has been linked to corruption.
Earlier, the government had temporarily halted the full cashless implementation at airport toll gates after the sudden rollout caused heavy traffic congestion and long queues of vehicles.
The delays made it difficult for motorists to complete electronic payments quickly, leading to passengers arriving late for their flights and causing operational disruptions at major airports.
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