Airport Gridlock Forces Policy Reversal as Tinubu Suspends FAAN Cashless Toll System

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate suspension of the cashless payment system recently introduced at airport toll gates across Nigeria, following widespread complaints of traffic gridlock and missed flights by passengers.

The directive was announced by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. According to the minister, the President acted out of concern for travellers affected by the congestion that emerged shortly after the system was introduced.

Keyamo explained that the new system, which replaced traditional cash payments with electronic transactions at airport toll gates and other payment points, created long queues at major airports, especially in Lagos and Abuja. Many passengers reportedly missed their flights due to the delays caused by the payment process.

The cashless policy was rolled out by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria on March 1, 2026, as part of efforts to modernise airport operations, block revenue leakages, and improve transparency in collections at toll gates, car parks, and other service points.

However, the transition proved challenging for many motorists who had not yet obtained the required prepaid “Go Cashless” cards or encountered delays using point-of-sale systems at the gates.

The result was severe congestion on access roads leading to airport terminals nationwide.

Following the suspension, the federal government directed a temporary return to the previous system while authorities work on improving the electronic payment framework. Officials indicated that a hybrid arrangement—allowing both cash payments and the use of prepaid cards already issued—may be adopted in the interim.

Keyamo also noted that the government may involve private sector partners in designing a more efficient digital payment solution that can achieve the original objective of eliminating cash transactions without disrupting airport traffic.

The development marks a swift policy reversal, coming only days after the nationwide rollout of the cashless system, and highlights the challenges of implementing large-scale digital reforms in critical infrastructure sectors such as aviation.