Tinubu Suspends FAAN Airport Cashless Policy After Gridlock, Missed Flights

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the suspension of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s newly introduced airport cashless payment system following reports of severe traffic congestion and passengers missing scheduled flights.

The directive was announced by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development after a Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by the President.

The intervention came only a few days after the nationwide rollout of the policy, which required all payments for airport access gates, car parks, and executive lounges to be made electronically.

According to the minister, the digital payment system was originally introduced to reduce corruption and improve revenue collection for the Federal Government. However, the policy created operational challenges at major airports, particularly in Lagos and Abuja, where long queues formed at entry points.

Many travellers reportedly struggled to complete registration and payment procedures at the toll gates, leading to significant delays and causing some passengers to miss their flights. The president was said to have expressed concern over the welfare of travellers affected by the situation, prompting the immediate suspension of the system.

The minister explained that the government decided to halt the policy temporarily while authorities review the operational challenges and introduce measures that would prevent a recurrence of the congestion.

The cashless initiative had been part of broader efforts to modernise airport operations and enhance transparency in revenue collection. The policy required motorists entering airports to pay electronically for vehicle access, parking services, and other related charges.

The system had previously been piloted at two major airports before the nationwide rollout. Authorities maintained that the platform was designed to deliver convenience and efficiency for travellers while ensuring improved accountability.

However, the nationwide launch led to widespread traffic build-ups as motorists attempted to obtain digital payment cards at entry points. Despite attempts to deploy additional personnel and increase registration stations to reduce delays, congestion continued at several airport access gates.

Public reactions to the policy were mixed, with some travellers supporting the push toward digital payments while others criticised the implementation process, citing poor preparation and inadequate infrastructure.

The operational disruptions eventually drew the attention of the Federal Executive Council, resulting in the presidential directive to suspend the system while improvements are made.