Aviation Minister Orders Hybrid Payment System At Airport Access Gates

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the reintroduction of a hybrid payment system at airport access gates across the country following the suspension of the full cashless payment arrangement.
The directive comes after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the suspension of the cashless system due to the severe traffic gridlock it created at several airport entry points.

According to a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the decision followed a meeting between the minister, officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and senior officials of the ministry to review the initial implementation of the system and the operational challenges encountered.

Moshood explained that the ministry resolved to engage concessionaires to introduce a fully automated electronic payment system at airport access gates nationwide in the long term, with the aim of completely eliminating cash transactions.

He said that pending the implementation of the automated system, a hybrid payment arrangement that allows both cash and electronic payments will resume at all airport access gates beginning from Friday, March 13, 2026.

Motorists who already possess FAAN Go Cashless Cards, he added, may continue to use them until further notice.

Moshood also noted that other electronic payment options, including Point of Sale (POS) terminals and other approved digital payment channels, will remain operational at the gates.

He encouraged members of the public and road users to obtain and use the FAAN Go Cashless Card as the authority continues efforts to enhance and fully optimise the cashless payment system.
The directive effectively restores the previous access gate payment arrangement while the ministry works towards deploying a fully automated electronic system across Nigerian airports.