Lagos, Nigeria – Nigeria’s airports will introduce a hybrid payment system at access gates from Thursday, March 13, accepting both cash and card after a fully cashless arrangement caused traffic gridlock and was suspended on presidential orders.
Okay News reports that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria will replace the failed cashless-only system with a hybrid arrangement that accepts both cash and card payments at all airport access gates nationwide.
President Bola Tinubu ordered the suspension of the cashless system after it created congestion at several airports. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo subsequently directed FAAN to revert to the previous payment arrangement while a longer-term solution was developed.
Under the new arrangement, motorists who already hold FAAN Go Cashless Cards may continue to use them. POS terminals and other approved digital payment channels will also remain available alongside cash.
The ministry stated it would engage airport concessionaires to develop a fully automated electronic system that would eventually eliminate cash payments entirely.
Keyamo had said on March 4 that his team would review the first seven days of the cashless system’s implementation to assess its impact on revenue and corruption. The gridlock that followed prompted the government to act sooner than anticipated.
This airport payment system reversal reflects the practical challenges of implementing digital-only solutions without adequate infrastructure and public readiness.
