President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended the cashless payment policy recently introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at airports across the country.
The decision follows widespread complaints from travellers, motorists, and airport users about long queues, payment failures, severe traffic gridlock, and flight misses, especially at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport and Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
FAAN had rolled out the fully cashless system, branded “Go Cashless” from March 1, 2026, halting cash acceptance at toll gates, car parks, lounges, and other revenue points.
The move was intended to speed up transactions, improve security, reduce cash handling risks, and boost revenue transparency through digital payments and prepaid cards.
However, inadequate public awareness, limited card availability, and technical glitches caused significant disruption.
FAAN reported issuing around 30,000 cards between October 2025 and February 2026, with over 70,000 more distributed recently, but many users still faced delays and frustration.
In response to the public backlash, President Tinubu directed an immediate suspension of the strict enforcement.
He instructed the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development to revisit the policy, address the implementation challenges, and design a more efficient, traveller-friendly system that advances the cashless objective without causing hardship.
FAAN had earlier urged patience while working to stabilize operations and expand card distribution.
The authority maintains that the policy remains a necessary reform to modernize airport services and curb revenue leakages, but acknowledged the need for better preparation and phasing.
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