President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate suspension of the newly introduced cashless payment system at airport toll gates nationwide following severe traffic congestion that left many passengers stranded and missing their flights.
The decision was announced on Wednesday by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja.
According to the minister, the President acted out of concern for Nigerians adversely affected by the gridlock, particularly at the Lagos and Abuja airport access roads.
“Mr. President was deeply worried about the hardship Nigerians were facing, especially those missing their flights due to the traffic situation. He has directed that the current system be suspended immediately,” Keyamo said.
He clarified that the suspension does not signal a return to a fully cash-based system but is aimed at addressing the operational challenges that triggered massive congestion at key airport toll gates.
The cashless policy, introduced less than a week ago by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), required motorists to use prepaid cards or electronic payment platforms to access airport facilities. The initiative was designed to curb revenue leakages, enhance transparency, and modernise toll collections that had remained cash-based for over five decades.
However, the rollout led to bottlenecks as many motorists struggled with the new payment methods, resulting in long queues stretching several kilometres. Social media was flooded with complaints and videos showing frustrated travellers caught in hours-long traffic jams.
Keyamo disclosed that President Tinubu has directed the ministry to urgently review and refine the system. He added that private sector players may be engaged to design a more efficient electronic payment framework that eliminates cash without disrupting traffic flow.
In the interim, a hybrid approach will be adopted. Motorists will be allowed to make cash payments temporarily while those who have already purchased FAAN prepaid cards can continue using them.
“We are returning to the drawing board to ensure we implement a system that works seamlessly. The President has asked that this be resolved without delay,” the minister stated.
While no specific timeline was given for the reintroduction of an improved cashless system, the government assured airport users that efforts are underway to prevent a recurrence of the chaos experienced in recent days.
The Lagos and Abuja airports, which handle the highest passenger volumes in the country, were the worst affected by the gridlock. Travellers reportedly had to arrive several hours earlier than usual in a bid to avoid missing their flights.
The government maintains that its goal remains the elimination of corruption and improved revenue tracking at airport toll gates, but with a system that ensures convenience and efficiency for Nigerians.
