By Peter Omopo
The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, has clarified that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not suspend the “Go Cashless” initiative at the nation’s airports but only directed the agency to improve the process before full implementation.
Kuku made the clarification on Thursday during a press conference at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, following reports that the president had ordered the immediate suspension of the policy.
The clarification comes barely 24 hours after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, told State House correspondents that President Tinubu had directed FAAN to halt the cashless payment system.
The introduction of the policy had triggered chaos at toll gates leading to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, with severe traffic gridlock reported as motorists struggled with the new payment system.
Kuku said the president’s directive was not a cancellation of the policy but an instruction to refine the process and adopt a hybrid approach that allows both cashless and cash payments.
According to her, the cashless initiative was introduced last year after extensive public enlightenment campaigns, including sensitisation efforts by the National Orientation Agency.
She explained that FAAN had earlier proposed a hybrid payment system that would combine cashless options with automated payments, but the agency had been working within a set deadline for full implementation.
Kuku said the president’s decision to allow more time for improvements was a positive development for the aviation sector, noting that the directive demonstrated an understanding of operational realities at airports.
She added that the traffic congestion observed around the airport toll gates was a major concern and influenced the decision to temporarily revert to the previous system while improvements are made.
According to her, the location of the toll gates contributes to congestion because the roads are not used exclusively by airport passengers but also by other commuters working in or passing through the area.
Kuku revealed that from October to March 3, FAAN recorded more than 100,000 registered users on the cashless platform, with about 60,000 of them enrolling within the last three days before the March 1 deadline.
She described the level of enrolment as encouraging, adding that the agency recorded about 99 percent success with the deployed cashless cards despite the operational challenges.
The FAAN boss said the agency would use the additional time granted by the president to refine the technology, increase public awareness and expand user options, including cards and electronic tags.
She also noted that the agency plans to engage the private sector and adopt lessons from other regions where similar systems have been successfully implemented.
Kuku assured airport users that the policy has not been abandoned but is being adjusted to allow more passengers and commuters to adapt to the system gradually.
She explained that under the hybrid approach, users can continue to pay with cash while also having the option to use cards until they fully transition to the cashless system.
According to her, one of the major objectives of the policy is to block revenue leakages and improve transparency in collections at airport toll points.
She added that FAAN would reassess the process in the coming days to ensure smoother implementation and reduce congestion around airport access roads.
