Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate suspension of the recently introduced cashless payment system at Nigerian airports after the policy triggered widespread traffic congestion and disrupted travel for thousands of passengers across the country. The directive followed mounting complaints from travellers and aviation stakeholders who reported severe gridlock at airport entry points, particularly in Lagos and Abuja, resulting in long delays and missed flights.
The suspension was announced by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. According to the minister, the president intervened after receiving reports that the new payment system had caused significant hardship for travellers trying to access airport terminals.
The controversial policy, implemented by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), had introduced a mandatory electronic payment system for motorists entering airports nationwide. Under the arrangement, drivers were required to use prepaid electronic cards or digital payment platforms to pay access fees at airport toll gates, parking areas, and other service points instead of making cash payments directly to attendants.
The initiative formed part of broader government efforts to modernize revenue collection in the aviation sector and eliminate cash handling, which authorities believed created opportunities for corruption and revenue leakages. For more than five decades, airport toll payments had traditionally been made in cash, with attendants collecting fees manually from vehicles entering airport facilities.
Despite the policy’s anti-corruption goals, the rollout quickly encountered operational difficulties. Within days of its implementation on March 1, 2026, long queues began forming at airport entrances as motorists struggled to obtain prepaid cards or process digital payments at access points. Many travellers who had not registered for the system in advance were forced to attempt registration at the gates, creating bottlenecks that extended several kilometres from airport entrances.
Videos and images circulating on social media showed massive traffic congestion outside major airports, with passengers reporting that it took several hours to reach terminals. Some travellers reportedly abandoned vehicles and walked long distances to catch flights, while others missed scheduled departures altogether due to the delays.
According to Keyamo, the president became concerned about the welfare of citizens and the disruption caused by the policy. He explained that Tinubu’s decision was primarily aimed at eliminating the severe congestion that had emerged at airport toll gates following the introduction of the electronic payment system.
The aviation minister emphasized that the suspension should not be interpreted as a rejection of digital payment reforms in the aviation sector. Instead, the government intends to redesign the system to ensure that it functions efficiently without causing traffic bottlenecks for airport users. Authorities have therefore been directed to revert temporarily to the previous payment arrangement while improvements are made to the electronic platform.
Under the interim arrangement, airport toll gates will operate a hybrid system that allows both cash payments and the use of electronic cards already purchased by motorists. This approach is expected to ease congestion while the government works on a more reliable digital payment infrastructure.
Keyamo also revealed that the federal government plans to involve private sector partners in redesigning the electronic payment system. According to him, private technology providers may be engaged to develop a more efficient platform capable of handling high traffic volumes without disrupting airport access. The government indicated it may even consider paying commissions to private operators if that would ensure a more reliable and seamless system.
The minister clarified that the president remains committed to a fully electronic payment system in the long term. However, he stressed that the system must be implemented in a way that does not inconvenience travellers or disrupt airport operations.
The suspension came less than a week after the policy was launched nationwide, highlighting the scale of the operational problems encountered during its rollout. Analysts say the incident underscores the challenges associated with implementing large-scale digital reforms in critical infrastructure sectors without extensive pilot testing.
Aviation experts note that airport access roads in Nigeria already experience heavy traffic due to increasing passenger volumes, commercial activities around terminals, and limited road infrastructure. Introducing a new payment mechanism without adequate preparation or alternative lanes for registered users may have amplified the congestion experienced during the policy’s early implementation.
Stone Reporters note that Nigeria has been pursuing a broader transition toward electronic financial systems for more than a decade. The national cashless policy, introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2012, was designed to reduce the volume of physical cash transactions and encourage digital payments across the economy.
However, the airport episode illustrates that while digital payment systems can improve transparency and revenue collection, their success depends heavily on infrastructure readiness, public awareness, and phased implementation. Without these factors, technological reforms can create unintended disruptions in essential public services.
As aviation authorities begin reviewing the policy, government officials say the redesigned system must strike a balance between efficiency, transparency, and convenience for travellers. The president has instructed the aviation ministry and FAAN to return with a workable solution as quickly as possible, ensuring that future reforms in the sector do not compromise passenger mobility or airport operations.
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