The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has suspended the full cashless system at Nigerian airports, announcing instead a hybrid payment system that allows both cash and card payments at airport access gates. The change will take effect on March 13, 2026.
The decision follows Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s earlier directive to halt the fully cashless system due to severe traffic congestion caused by limited payment options at airport gates.
According to a report by NTA, Keyamo stated this during a meeting with officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), clarifying that motorists who already possess FAAN Go Cashless cards may continue to use them until further notice. Other electronic payment methods, including POS terminals and approved digital channels, will remain operational.
In a related move, Minister Keyamo announced a two-month suspension of helicopter landing fees following consultations with Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum, and key industry stakeholders.
The fees, regulated by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), were considered potentially disruptive to oil and gas operations. To address this, an inter-ministerial committee comprising representatives from the aviation and petroleum sectors will review the policy and propose a resolution that balances regulatory compliance with operational efficiency.