By Peter Omopo
Local and international travellers were forced to abandon their vehicles and trek into the terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following severe traffic congestion caused by the full enforcement of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s cashless policy.
The implementation of the “Operation Go Cashless” directive resulted in long queues stretching from the airport toll gate, leaving many passengers scrambling to catch their scheduled flights.
The disruption followed FAAN’s enforcement of its directive mandating fully electronic payments at all airport revenue points, including access gates, car parks, VIP lounges and protocol services.
Although FAAN had announced in September 2025 that all payments at its revenue points would become fully electronic as part of efforts to modernise operations and promote transparency, full activation of the policy began on March 1, 2026, after the Federal Government approved its enforcement to curb revenue leakages.
Airport users are now required to obtain a dedicated FAAN electronic payment card, which must be registered, funded and scanned at entry points. While some motorists attempted to use commercial bank ATM cards or Point-of-Sale terminals, many complained of slow processing and repeated transaction failures, leading to massive gridlock at the airport entrance.
Several stranded travellers were seen dragging their luggage on foot from the toll gate after abandoning their vehicles in a bid to avoid missing flights.
Aviation stakeholders have criticised the rollout, arguing that the focus on revenue collection overshadowed operational planning. Aviation analyst Olumide Ohunayo said authorities failed to prioritise traffic flow management, noting that revenue enforcement was placed ahead of practical considerations such as infrastructure capacity and commuter behaviour.
The situation has also sparked widespread reactions on social media, with users expressing frustration over the implementation process. While some acknowledged the benefits of digital payments, many argued that poor planning and inadequate infrastructure turned the policy into a major inconvenience for airport users.
As of press time, traffic into the Abuja airport remained slow, with security and traffic officials working to manage the congestion.
