FAAN’s New Cashless Policy Triggers Massive Airport Delays

Air travellers heading through Lagos and Abuja airports on Sunday were met with chaos and long delays following the full rollout of the Federal Government’s cashless payment policy at airport entry gates.

The enforcement of the electronic payment system by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) led to heavy traffic congestion, missed flights, and widespread complaints from passengers who struggled to gain access to the terminals.

Several travellers recounted frustrating experiences as motorists grappled with the newly activated system. While some abandoned their vehicles at the airport gates in a bid to avoid missing their flights, others said they spent hours in traffic queues that stretched for kilometres.

Passengers criticised what they described as inadequate preparation and poor infrastructure to support the sudden enforcement of the policy.

A Lagos-based frequent flyer, Adedeji Rilewan, said reforms should not come at the expense of efficiency in a time-sensitive environment like an airport. According to him, he was forced to leave his vehicle at the entrance with relatives so he could make his flight.

“No one is opposed to cashless payments,” he said. “But you can’t introduce a system that makes people miss their flights. Airports operate on strict timelines. I had to leave my car at the gate with my cousins just to catch my flight.”

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, another passenger, who identified himself simply as Wale, described the situation as disorganised.

“I left home early thinking I had enough time, only to be stuck at the gate for more than an hour. The payment system wasn’t smooth. People were confused, and there were no clear directions,” he said.

FAAN had announced about six months ago that all payments across its facilities — including access gates, car parks, VIP lounges and protocol services — would become fully electronic from September 2025 as part of efforts to modernise operations and enhance transparency.

However, strict enforcement only began on Sunday after the agency confirmed that the Federal Government had approved full activation of the policy from March 1, 2026, aimed at plugging revenue leakages.

Under the new arrangement, motorists are required to obtain a dedicated FAAN electronic payment card, which must be registered, loaded with funds and scanned at entry points. Although Point-of-Sale terminals and bank ATM cards were reportedly accepted, many users said the transactions were slow and frequently unsuccessful, worsening the gridlock.

Reacting to the backlash, FAAN spokesperson Henry Agbebire attributed the disruption to last-minute compliance by travellers despite months of prior sensitisation.

According to him, cash payments were completely discontinued at the toll gates, and temporary registration points had been set up near airport entrances to assist motorists in obtaining the required cards.

Agbebire explained that many drivers were registering and activating their cards on the spot, which significantly slowed traffic flow. He maintained that the cards were readily available and free, requiring only an initial load — such as ₦1,000 or ₦2,000 — for multiple uses before reloading.

While POS payments remain an option, he noted that they contribute to delays and are therefore discouraged. He added that additional staff would be deployed to ease registration and ensure smoother operations in the coming days.

The agency insisted that the transition is essential to curb corruption and improve transparency in revenue collection, in line with federal directives on electronic payments.

Also commenting on the development, Michael Achimugu of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority expressed confidence that the disruption was temporary.

He said once airport users obtain the required cards, the process would become faster and more efficient.

According to him, the initial inconvenience was expected, but the system would soon operate more seamlessly while helping to close revenue loopholes within the aviation sector.