President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to suspend its recently introduced cashless payment policy following widespread traffic congestion at airports across the country.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed the directive while briefing journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by the president.
The suspension comes just four days after the initiative was implemented, a move that triggered heavy gridlock at several major airports nationwide.
Introduced on March 1, the policy required travellers and motorists to make payments digitally through “Go Cashless” cards or point-of-sale (POS) terminals for access gates, parking spaces, lounges, and other airport facilities—bringing an end to over five decades of cash transactions.
However, on its first day, passengers experienced severe traffic snarls at major hubs including Murtala Muhammed International Airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The disruption led to long queues, stranded drivers, and numerous missed flights.
In response, Tinubu directed Keyamo and FAAN officials to immediately pause the rollout and reassess the system.
According to the minister, the president instructed them to “return to the drawing board” and design a more user-friendly approach that ensures revenue transparency while also safeguarding passenger convenience.
Speaking on the matter, Keyamo said, “In the aviation sector, two major issues were discussed today. The first concerns the cashless system introduced at our toll gates nationwide to curb corruption and enhance federal government revenue.”
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