Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has reaffirmed that the federal government has no plans to reverse its cashless payment policy at Nigerian airports, despite the temporary use of a hybrid cash-and-digital arrangement. Keyamo made the comments during an on-the-spot assessment of the payment system at the toll gate of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The hybrid system was introduced after President Bola Tinubu directed a temporary suspension of full cashless enforcement, following severe traffic congestion caused by its rushed rollout at airport toll gates. Under the current arrangement, travellers who already hold a Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) cashless card can continue using them, while a limited allowance remains for those who have not yet obtained one.
Government Insists Cash Collection Will End
Keyamo said the hybrid model is a temporary bridge while the government prepares to move airports to a fully automated digital platform, and directed FAAN to keep digital payments cheaper than cash to encourage adoption. He said the policy aligns with a broader federal directive barring government agencies from collecting physical cash, and that officials are in talks with concessionaires who would help fully automate airport payment systems.
Background
The rushed initial implementation of cashless tolling had caused long vehicle queues and made some passengers late for flights, prompting the presidential pause. Keyamo's remarks signal that the pause is intended as a transition period rather than a retreat from the policy, with the minister saying the government has very limited time left to complete the shift to a fully digital system.