Tinubu Suspends Cashless Payment System at Airports

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate suspension of the recently introduced cashless payment system at Nigerian airports, following numerous complaints regarding severe traffic congestion and hardships experienced by travelers. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, disclosed this decision during a briefing with journalists at the State House in Abuja after a Federal Executive Council meeting.

The cashless system was initially designed by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to eliminate corruption and improve revenue collection by replacing cash payments at airport toll gates and parking points. However, shortly after its rollout, it reportedly caused significant gridlock around airport access roads, particularly in Lagos and Abuja, leading to passengers missing flights.

In response to these issues, President Tinubu expressed concern for the welfare of Nigerians and ordered the suspension of the policy pending a review. Keyamo emphasized that this suspension should not be interpreted as a permanent return to cash payments but as a temporary measure to alleviate current congestion while a more efficient electronic payment solution is developed.