The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the resumption of a hybrid payment system at airport access gates nationwide from Friday, March 13, 2026.
The directive was announced via a statement from his spokesperson and follows the suspension of the full cashless payment policy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The hybrid system will allow both cash and electronic transactions, aiming to ease traffic gridlocks that occurred during the initial rollout of the cashless system.
What they are saying
The Ministry of Aviation clarified that the hybrid system will be implemented at all airports managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) across the country.
Motorists will be able to pay for airport access using either cash or electronic channels while authorities work to restore an efficient automated system.
- “Following the earlier suspension of the full cashless Access Gate payment system as directed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, due to the traffic gridlock it created, the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development today met with officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and senior officials of the Ministry,” the statement read.
- “In the meantime, a hybrid payment system that accommodates both cash and card payments will resume at all airport access gates with effect from Friday, March 13, 2026.”
The Ministry explained that the hybrid system was necessary after the fully cashless model created operational challenges, including gridlocks at access gates.
More insights
Motorists who already have the FAAN Go Cashless Card were advised to continue using it until further notice. Over 100,000 cards have been issued since the rollout.
Other electronic payment options, including POS terminals and approved digital channels, will continue to be available at airports.
The Ministry plans to engage concessionaires to introduce a fully automated system in the future, with the aim of eventually eliminating cash payments.
The public is encouraged to obtain and use the FAAN Go Cashless Card as part of ongoing efforts to optimise the cashless system.
The hybrid model is seen as a temporary but necessary measure to ensure smoother airport access while the Ministry refines the electronic payment system.
Get up to speed
FAAN initially rolled out a nationwide cashless policy on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at all FAAN-managed airports, requiring digital payments for access gates, parking, and executive lounges. The initiative aimed to modernise operations and improve revenue transparency.
- Reports from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja showed severe gridlocks, leaving passengers stuck and some missing flights.
- Nigerians shared mixed reactions on platforms like X and Instagram, citing congestion, missed flights, and suggestions for smoother implementation.
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended the policy on March 4 due to the operational disruptions caused by the cashless rollout.
The temporary suspension was intended to prevent further traffic build-up while a more practical solution is implemented.
What you should know
FAAN first introduced contactless payments at Lagos and Abuja airports in September 2025 as a pilot for vehicle access and parking payments. The system was designed to improve efficiency, convenience, and transparency.
The nationwide rollout faced congestion as many motorists attempted to register for Go Cashless cards at airport gates.
- FAAN deployed additional personnel and registration points to ease congestion, but gridlocks persisted, prompting the temporary suspension.
- Lagos and Abuja airports were selected for the pilot phase because of high traffic volumes, with over 300,000 vehicles passing monthly and VIP lounges serving thousands of travellers.
- The system uses NFC-enabled cards for instant payments, reducing cash handling and speeding up vehicle flow.
While the long-term goal remains a fully electronic revenue collection system, the government has prioritised passenger convenience and operational efficiency during the review of the payment framework.
