Chaos erupted at the entrance of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) on Sunday after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) officially rolled out its cashless payment policy at the airport’s access gates.
The new directive, which makes the “Go Cashless” card mandatory for all motorists entering the airport premises, led to massive traffic congestion as several drivers were denied entry for failing to present the required card.
Many motorists, unaware that the enforcement would begin at the entrance gates, were forced to either queue for on-the-spot registration or turn back, resulting in long lines stretching beyond the airport road. As of Monday, the gridlock reportedly persisted, leaving some passengers stranded and scrambling to catch their flights.
Despite FAAN’s public awareness campaign dating back to 2025, several commuters said they were not adequately informed about the immediate enforcement of the policy at the toll gates.
“I have been plying this route every day, and I hear of cashless, but I didn’t know it would start from the entrance gate,” one commuter, John Ameh, said.
Another driver, Chinedu Okeke, criticised what he described as a rushed implementation.
“The lines are terrible. Not everyone has a debit card compatible with the system. The technology isn’t ready for such a sudden launch,” he said.
Some motorists also complained about slow network connectivity and insufficient registration points, which compounded the delays.
In a statement issued via its social media platforms, FAAN apologised for the inconvenience and appealed to airport users for patience and cooperation.
The Authority confirmed that the FAAN Go Cashless Programme had commenced at both NAIA and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), in line with the Federal Government’s directive on cashless transactions.
FAAN acknowledged the heavy traffic build-up, attributing it to a surge of motorists attempting to register for the Go Cashless card at the gates on the first day of enforcement.
While noting that some adjustment challenges were anticipated, the Authority insisted that adequate notice had been given prior to implementation.
To address the congestion, FAAN said it had deployed additional personnel to the gates, expanded registration points for first-time card issuance, and improved on-ground coordination to restore traffic flow.
The agency maintained that the transition to a cashless system is aimed at ensuring faster processing, improved transparency, reduced cash handling risks, and a more efficient airport experience.
Mixed Reactions From Commuters
Reactions from airport users ranged from frustration to cautious optimism.
A commuter identified as Musa described the situation as an “unbelievable mess,” questioning Nigeria’s readiness for a fully digital toll system.
“How many people have Tap to Pay debit cards? The network is slow; the technology is not there,” he said.
Rita Nwankwo, another airport user, stressed the need for proper testing before full rollout. “It’s going to take some time for everyone to adjust, but people are already late for flights,” she said.
Meanwhile, frequent airport driver Emeka Uzo argued that the policy should have been strictly enforced weeks earlier to allow smoother adaptation.
“They should have made it mandatory earlier, not sprung it on everyone today. It’s causing unnecessary stress,” he said.