Nigeria Suspends Airport Cashless Policy After Nationwide Gridlock
The Nigerian government has suspended a newly implemented cashless payment policy at all federal airports, following widespread congestion and public outcry. President Bola Tinubu directed the immediate halt on Tuesday, just four days after the policy’s rollout.
The policy, introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on March 1, required all payments for airport access gates, parking, and lounge services to be made digitally via designated ‘Go Cashless’ cards or point-of-sale (POS) terminals. The intention was to enhance revenue transparency and curb cash handling.
However, the mandate resulted in severe traffic bottlenecks at major airports, including Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The inability of many motorists to quickly access or navigate the new digital payment systems led to extensive queues, stranded vehicles, and numerous passengers missing their flights.
Announcing the suspension, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Festus Keyamo briefed journalists after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Tinubu. “The President has ordered the Ministry of Aviation and the management of FAAN to suspend the implementation of this cashless policy forthwith,” Keyamo stated.
President Tinubu instructed the aviation authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of the policy’s implementation. He emphasized the need for a more “people-friendly” alternative that successfully balances the objectives of financial transparency with the paramount need for passenger and visitor convenience.
The suspension represents a swift policy reversal in response to operational failures that directly impacted national infrastructure and public mobility. The government now faces the task of redesigning the airport payment framework to avoid a repeat of the recent gridlock, while still pursuing its broader financial accountability goals within the aviation sector.
