Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has declared there is “no going back” on the full implementation of a cashless payment system at the country’s major airports, revealing that President Bola Tinubu has given him a specific deadline to complete the transition.
Keyamo made the statement on Friday during an inspection at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja. His visit followed the introduction of a temporary hybrid system, a compromise adopted after the initial strict cashless policy, launched in March, caused significant traffic congestion, prompting the President to suspend its enforcement.
The hybrid model allows travellers who already possess pre-paid “cashless cards” to continue using them, with payments directed straight to the Treasury Single Account (TSA). For those unfamiliar with the cards, a minimal cash payment option remains available temporarily. “Look, there is no going back on the cashless system,” Keyamo stated, citing a federal government directive prohibiting all agencies from collecting cash. He emphasized that the hybrid arrangement is a short-term bridge.
“At the last Federal Executive Council meeting, Mr. President gave me a deadline,” Keyamo said. “I will push those under me. We are going to go cashless.” He took direct responsibility for the rollout, moving away from the previous hands-off approach where the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) managed implementation details.
Concurrently, FAAN Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, conducted her own inspection at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) tollgate in Lagos. She confirmed the hybrid system is now active at tollgates in both Abuja and Lagos, with early reports indicating smoother traffic flow compared to the March rollout. Kuku noted that public awareness campaigns are ongoing, particularly at the busy Lagos airport where many travellers are still learning the automated options.
Kuku explained that the final stage involves engaging concessionaires who manage the toll infrastructure to achieve full automation, a move the Minister insists is critical to eliminating corruption associated with cash handling. “It has been happening for the last 50 years that FAAN collects cash… I will not allow it to continue,” Keyamo said.
The switch to a digital-only system at airport access points is a key part of federal efforts to improve efficiency, reduce leakages, and modernise operations. While the hybrid system provides immediate relief, the government’s stated end goal is a fully automated, cashless airport environment nationwide, driven by a firm deadline from the presidency.
