President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate suspension of the current cashless payment system at federal airports, following widespread complaints of congestion and passengers missing flights. The directive emerged as one of the resolutions of the Federal Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday, reflecting the administration’s concern for passenger convenience and operational efficiency.
Speaking on the development, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, explained that the President had become aware of the difficulties faced by Nigerians at airport access points under the new system.
Keyamo stated that “out of empathy, the President directed that the ministry suspend the present system because it created a lot of gridlock, and Nigerians were suffering.” He further added that President Tinubu had instructed the ministry to “go back to the status quo, suspend the present system, and perfect it as soon as possible,” signaling a pause to reassess and improve the implementation strategy for the cashless system.
The current disruption traces its origins to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s (FAAN) announcement on March 28, 2026, that it would implement a fully cashless, contactless payment system across all airport payment points nationwide, effective March 1, 2026.
According to FAAN, the system was intended to allow users to “enjoy faster, safer, and more convenient transactions at our airports,” a measure designed to modernize operations and reduce the reliance on cash handling at airports.
However, despite extensive publicity campaigns, notices, and repeated announcements prior to the launch, the introduction of the cashless system immediately created traffic build-up and gridlock at airport access gates. A significant number of motorists reportedly opted to register for their “Go Cashless” cards on-site at the gates on the first day of implementation, creating pressure on the toll lanes and disrupting the smooth flow of passengers entering terminals.
FAAN, responding to the initial disruptions, acknowledged the situation in a statement posted on its X platform (formerly Twitter), explaining that “despite the wide publicity, notices, and repeated announcements issued ahead of the commencement date, a significant number of motorists opted to register for their Go Cashless cards at the gates this morning. This understandably created pressure on the toll lanes and resulted in temporary gridlock.
While some initial adjustment challenges were anticipated, as with any major system transition, the Authority had provided ample notice to encourage early registration and avoid congestion on day one.” The statement further highlighted that the authority had taken immediate steps to alleviate the problem, noting, “To ease the situation, we have deployed additional personnel to the access gates, increased registration points to fast-track first-time card issuance, enhanced on-ground coordination to improve traffic flow.”
The decision by President Tinubu to suspend the system underscores a commitment to the safety, convenience, and satisfaction of airport users, particularly as the cashless initiative had inadvertently hampered travelers’ mobility and contributed to missed flights. It also provides the Federal Ministry of Aviation and FAAN the opportunity to refine the payment infrastructure, ensuring that the system is functional, user-friendly, and capable of handling high traffic volumes before it is reintroduced.
Aviation stakeholders have long emphasized the importance of careful planning and public sensitization in the rollout of digital payment systems, particularly in high-traffic public facilities such as airports, and the President’s intervention reflects a responsive governance approach aimed at avoiding systemic disruption.