BREAKING: Tinubu Orders Suspension of FAAN’s Cashless Airport Policy Amid Nationwide Gridlock

President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate suspension of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s (FAAN) new cashless payment policy, following widespread traffic congestion and public complaints at major airports across the country.

The directive comes four days after the policy took effect on March 1, 2026. The initiative tagged “Operation Go Cashless,” banned cash transactions at all FAAN-controlled points, including toll gates, car parks, and executive lounges, mandating digital payments through designated channels.

Reports from Lagos, Abuja, and other key airports indicated that the transition caused severe gridlock at access gates, with passengers stranded and some reportedly missing their flights. Motorists without prepaid cards faced delays, while point-of-sale terminals suffered from network issues, compounding the chaos.

Hours before the suspension order, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo had defended the policy in a social media post, appealing for public patience.

“By the end of this week, I, along with my team, will be reviewing the first one week of our going cashless at all our payment points at airports across the country in order to eliminate corruption and optimize revenue,” Keyamo wrote on X.

“We will surely improve the efficiency of the new system as time progresses by developing new ideas, but this government is determined to end the practice of collecting cash at our gates. Kindly bear with us, please.”

FAAN had earlier introduced four digital payment options for motorists: the Go Cashless Card, E-Tag for frequent users, VIP Stickers for authorised vehicles, and ATM or debit card payments via POS. The authority stated that the Go Cashless Card could be obtained at commercial offices, access gates, or through an online registration portal.

The policy, developed in partnership with Paystack and first announced in September 2025, was piloted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. FAAN projected a 75 percent increase in revenue through improved transparency and reduced cash handling.

However, implementation challenges on the first day led to long queues and vehicular gridlock stretching beyond airport perimeters, prompting public outcry and eventual presidential intervention.

As of press time, FAAN has yet to issue an official statement regarding the suspension or provide clarity on the next steps for airport access payments.