President Tinubu
Olamilekan Abayomi
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate suspension of the cashless payment system at airport toll gates across Nigeria due to widespread gridlock and hardship caused to travelers. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced this decision after the Federal Executive Council meeting, stating that the president’s primary concern was to eliminate the congestion at Lagos and Abuja airport toll gates.
The cashless system, introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on March 1, 2026, aimed to block revenue leakages and ensure transparency in toll collection. However, its implementation led to massive traffic congestion, causing passengers to miss flights and experience hours-long delays.
Keyamo emphasized that the suspension is temporary, and a hybrid system will be implemented, allowing both cash payments and the use of FAAN cards already purchased by motorists. The government plans to engage private sector participants to develop a more efficient electronic payment system.
The president’s decision was driven by empathy for Nigerians suffering due to the gridlock. Keyamo stated that the new system should not create congestion and that the review process should not take long.
The suspension affects the “Operation Go Cashless” initiative, which was meant to curb decades-old revenue leakages, fraud, and under-remittance in cash collections at toll gates and parking lots. The rushed rollout triggered widespread chaos, with social media videos showing queues stretching kilometers.
FAAN had collected cash from motorists at toll gates and parking lots for over 50 years, and the cashless system was introduced to improve revenue collection and transparency.
The government aims to restore efficiency at airport entry points quickly and is committed to a fully electronic system for revenue collection. Keyamo stressed that the suspension is not a return to permanent cash transactions but a temporary measure to ease difficulties faced by travelers.
The ministry will work on refining the electronic framework, and private sector participation is expected to enhance the payment system.
