President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to immediately suspend the implementation of the controversial cashless payment policy at Nigerian airports.
The directive follows widespread reports of chaotic congestion, long queues, and operational disruptions at airport access gates after the enforcement of the cashless system.
Recall that in a statement posted Monday via its official X handle, FAAN outlined the approved payment options, including the FAAN Go Cashless Card, E-Tag for frequent users, VIP Sticker for authorised vehicles, and ATM/Debit Card payments via POS, noting that processing time for card payments could vary due to banking network issues.
The authority had said the measures were introduced to ensure “smooth and efficient access” and to promote seamless transactions at airport entry points.
However, despite those assurances, the rollout triggered long queues and chaotic traffic build-up at airport gates, particularly in Lagos and Abuja, as many motorists reportedly struggled with payment validation delays and technical glitches.
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