President Bola Tinubu has suspended the recently introduced cashless payment system at airport toll gates nationwide following reports of severe traffic congestion that caused many passengers to miss their flights.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the suspension on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja.
He said the President directed an immediate return to the previous payment system while a more efficient electronic solution is developed.
“Mr. President was very concerned about the welfare of Nigerians, especially those losing their flights. Out of empathy, he directed that the current system be suspended immediately,” Keyamo explained.
The cashless system, introduced less than a week ago by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), required motorists to use prepaid cards or electronic payment platforms at toll gates.
The policy aimed to reduce corruption and optimize revenue collection. However, poor implementation led to long traffic jams at Lagos and Abuja airports, prompting widespread complaints from travellers on social media.
Keyamo said the government would now implement a hybrid system, allowing both cash payments and card use while private sector partners are engaged to design a smoother electronic system.
“If we have to pay commission to get it right, we will. The goal is to eliminate cash at the gates without causing gridlock,” he added.
FAAN had defended the cashless policy as a move to ensure transparency and reduce revenue leakages, but the infrastructure for seamless electronic payments proved inadequate, resulting in operational chaos.
The minister did not give a specific timeline for the return of a fully electronic system but stressed that President Tinubu wants the issue resolved urgently.
