President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended the newly introduced cashless toll payment system at airports nationwide, citing passenger welfare and the severe traffic congestion that left many travelers missing flights.
The announcement was made by Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, following Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja. This move comes just days after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) fully implemented the “Operation Go Cashless” policy on March 1, 2026.
The initiative had been intended to curb long-standing revenue leakages, fraud, and under-collection at toll gates, parking lots, and other airport points. However, its rapid rollout caused widespread chaos, particularly at major airports like Murtala Muhammed International Airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where access roads became gridlocked for hours.
Keyamo stressed that the president acted out of concern for ordinary Nigerians.
“Mr. President was very concerned about the welfare of Nigerians and the fact that most were missing their flights,” the minister said. “Out of empathy, he directed that we suspend the current system because it is causing severe gridlock and unnecessary suffering.”
Social media footage and reports highlighted kilometres-long queues, as motorists struggled to obtain or use prepaid FAAN cards and other electronic platforms. Many passengers who arrived hours early still missed domestic and connecting flights due to the congestion.
Keyamo clarified that returning to cash payments is a temporary measure, not a full endorsement of the old system.
“The main reason for this decision is to eliminate the current gridlock… not because the president prefers the cash system,” he explained.
Looking forward, the ministry has been instructed to refine the electronic toll framework.
“We aim to revisit the system, potentially partnering with the private sector, to establish an electronic payment method that avoids the kind of congestion we are seeing now,” Keyamo added.