Travellers heading through Lagos and Abuja airports on Sunday faced major disruptions following the full enforcement of the Federal Government’s cashless payment policy at airport toll gates. The development led to severe traffic congestion, missed flights, and widespread frustration among passengers.
The new system, introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), requires motorists to make electronic payments at airport access points, eliminating cash transactions entirely.
Several passengers recounted difficult experiences as drivers struggled to navigate the electronic payment process. Some travellers reportedly abandoned their vehicles at airport entrances after encountering difficulties with payments, while others said they missed flights after spending hours stuck in traffic queues.
Many passengers criticised what they described as inadequate preparation and poor infrastructure to support the transition.
A Lagos-based frequent flyer, Adedeji Rilewan, said reforms must be matched with proper operational planning. He explained that he had to leave his car at the airport gate with relatives in order to make his flight.
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“Nobody is against cashless payment, but you don’t introduce a system that prevents people from catching flights. Airports are time-sensitive environments. I had to park my car with my cousins at the gate to be able to catch my flight. As I speak with you now, I am sweating profusely,” he said.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, another passenger, who identified himself simply as Wale, described the scene as chaotic.
“I left home very early, thinking I had enough time for my flight, only to get stuck at the airport gate for over an hour. The payment system was not working smoothly. People were confused, and nobody seemed to know what to do,” he said.
FAAN had previously announced about six months ago that all payments across its revenue channels—including access gates, parking facilities, VIP lounges, and protocol services—would transition to electronic platforms beginning in September 2025. The move, according to the agency, was aimed at modernising operations, enhancing transparency, and aligning Nigeria’s aviation sector with global digital standards.
However, full enforcement remained largely inactive until February, when FAAN declared that the Federal Government had directed the complete implementation of the policy from March 1, 2026, to curb revenue leakages.
Although some motorists attempted payments via ATM cards or Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals, many complained of repeated transaction failures and slow processing times. The resulting delays caused long lines of vehicles stretching several kilometres at airport entrances in both cities.
Reacting to the situation, FAAN spokesperson Henry Agbebire attributed the congestion to last-minute compliance by motorists despite earlier public awareness efforts.
“I think what happened was that we tried to publicise this as much as possible, but a lot of people waited till the last minute before getting their cards. The implementation of the cashless programme started today,” he said.
Agbebire stated that cash payments had been completely discontinued at toll gates and that facilities were available near the entrances for card registration.
“Nobody passed through the toll gate and paid cash today, and that led to traffic congestion because many people were registering on the spot to obtain cards.
“There is a canopy close to the toll gate where people can register. Those coming from Oshodi can cross over, while those approaching from the local airport end can drive into the aviation school area to get their cards.”
He insisted that card supply was sufficient and that while POS payments were permitted, they contributed to slower traffic movement.
“We don’t have a problem with cards. We have enough cards for people. The card is free. You only need to load it, maybe N1,000 or N2,000, and you can use it several times before reloading.
“We accept POS, but POS transactions slow down movement, so we encourage people to get the dedicated FAAN card. From tomorrow, more personnel in branded shirts will assist travellers with registration. The idea is to block leakages and align with the Federal Government directive that revenues must be collected electronically,” he said.
Also weighing in on the issue, Michael Achimugu of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) expressed confidence that the disruption would be temporary as more users obtained payment cards.
“Due to the new FAAN cashless policy, vehicles passing through the tollgate are enduring some delays in order to get the card. If they do, the traffic situation would only be an inconvenience for today,” he said. “Going forward, it is expected to be more seamless than ever before. It also blocks corruption loopholes,” Achimugu added.
Authorities maintain that the initiative is essential to enhance accountability in revenue collection, even as passengers call for improved implementation to prevent future disruptions.
