Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has firmly stated that there is “no going back” on the implementation of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) cashless policy at airports across the country.
This declaration comes after President Bola Tinubu temporarily suspended the full enforcement of the cashless system due to the significant traffic gridlock it caused shortly after its introduction on March 1, 2026.
Following the President’s directive, a temporary hybrid system has been put in place at airport toll gates to ease the transition to full cashless. This system allows airport users who already have the FAAN cashless card to continue using it, while other users who are not yet accustomed to the system can temporarily pay with cash.
Speaking during a visit to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja to monitor the hybrid system and flow of traffic on Friday, March 13, Keyamo made it clear that the hybrid arrangement is a short-term measure designed to ease traffic and ensure continued revenue collection as the government works towards a full migration.
Keyamo said the system has proved effective for now, as the gridlock earlier experienced has fizzled out, but insisted that full cashless would be implemented.
The minister revealed that President Tinubu has given him a clear deadline to achieve a fully cashless operation, adding that he is determined to implement the directive. “The moment Mr. President pushes me, I will also push those under me. Before Mr. President sacks me, I will sack other people too,” Keyamo stated, underscoring the seriousness of the presidential order.
A primary driver behind the policy is to eliminate corruption and revenue leakages that have plagued the system for decades.
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Keyamo strongly criticized the old cash-based system, noting that FAAN has collected cash at its points for the last 50 years, which he described as a “corrupt system.”
He asserted that currently, there is a federal government directive mandating all federal agencies to stop collecting cash, and the aviation sector will comply.
Future Plans: Full Automation and End of VIP Privileges
To achieve a seamless and transparent system, Keyamo said the government is in discussions with concessionaires to deploy fully automated electronic toll collection infrastructure. This automation is intended to remove all forms of human interference in the payment process, with revenues remitted directly to the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
In a move to ensure fairness and block revenue loopholes, Keyamo has also ordered the immediate abolition of the VIP toll lane. He insisted that all airport users, regardless of their status, must pay the required toll. “When the system becomes fully automated, everyone will interact directly with the machine. Whether you are a big man or not, you must pay before the barrier opens,” he stated. He further directed that electronic payments should be made cheaper than cash to incentivize the use of the cashless system.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X
