Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reiterated that the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria’s (FAAN) cashless payment policy across major airports is non-negotiable, revealing that President Bola Tinubu personally set a deadline for its full implementation.
Keyamo made the announcement during an on-the-spot assessment of the hybrid payment system at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), on Friday in Abuja, which was introduced to ease operational challenges following the initial rollout of the cashless system.
“We decided to go back to the drawing boards temporarily, to ensure revenue collection while easing traffic flow.
”For users who have purchased cashless cards, transactions go straight into the TSA.
”For those unfamiliar, a minimal number of cash transactions are allowed until full migration,” Keyamo said.
“There is no going back on the cashless system.
”Federal directives prohibit cash collection in all federal agencies.
”We have a limited window to fully implement this system, ” he added.
Keyamo emphasised that his intervention marks a shift in accountability.
Previously, FAAN handled full implementation, but the Minister said he has now taken personal control to ensure proper enforcement.
“At the last Federal Reserve Council meeting, Mr. President gave me a deadline.
”I am responsible, and I will see this through. The hybrid system will not last.
” Discussions with concessionaires are underway to make it fully automated and electronic, eliminating cash collection and reducing opportunities for corruption,” he added.
The hybrid system allows travellers to use the automated “gold card” method while still permitting limited cash transactions.
The system was first trialled on March 1, 2026, but traffic congestion prompted President Tinubu to temporarily suspend strict enforcement.
FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku also oversaw the rollout at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, after a morning inspection of the Abuja facility.
She described the hybrid approach as a transition mechanism to familiarize passengers with cashless options while maintaining smooth traffic flow.
“The Abuja tollgate recorded free-flowing traffic during the morning rollout, aided by public awareness campaigns.
”Lagos also performed well, although further sensitisation is required given the airport’s high number of occasional users,” Kuku explained.
The hybrid system is part of FAAN’s broader modernization agenda aimed at improving airport access, traffic management, and digital payment adoption.
Kuku stressed that lessons learned from the current implementation would guide full integration with concessionaires and streamline future operations in collaboration with the Aviation Ministry.
As Nigeria moves toward fully automated airport payments, Keyamo warned that any return to cash collection would not be tolerated, describing it as a legacy practice prone to corruption.
