NIGERIA: FAAN Appeals For Patience Amid Gridlock As ‘Go Cashless’ Programme Launches At Lagos and Abuja Airports

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has appealed to motorists and airport users for patience and cooperation following significant traffic congestion experienced at the access gates of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja on Sunday.

This marked the official full rollout of the “Go Cashless” programme, which eliminates cash payments at airport toll gates, car parks, executive lounges, and other revenue points in line with the Federal Government’s directive on promoting cashless transactions.

In a statement posted on its official X handle, FAAN acknowledged the temporary gridlock, attributing it to a large number of motorists choosing to register for the new Go Cashless prepaid cards directly at the gates on the first day of enforcement.

Despite extensive prior publicity through notices, announcements, and sensitization campaigns since the programme’s pilot phase in late 2025, many users delayed registration, leading to long queues, pressure on toll lanes, and delays that left some passengers stranded and even caused missed flights at the busy hubs.

FAAN expressed deep empathy for the inconvenience caused during this initial transition to a fully digital, contactless payment system developed in partnership with Paystack to enhance speed, security, transparency, and efficiency while reducing risks associated with cash handling.

To address the challenges, FAAN has deployed additional personnel to the access gates, increased registration points for faster first-time card issuance, and improved on-ground coordination to ease traffic flow.

The authority emphasized that the Go Cashless cards remain available for pickup at FAAN commercial offices and access gates nationwide, encouraging frequent users to obtain and preload them in advance to avoid future disruptions. FAAN reiterated its commitment to stabilizing the process quickly and assured that the initiative aligns with broader national efforts to digitize payments, promising long-term benefits such as seamless transactions for all airport visitors.

The rollout has drawn mixed reactions, with some Nigerians expressing frustration over the sudden enforcement and logistical hiccups, while others view it as a necessary step toward modernizing airport operations.

FAAN urged all stakeholders to embrace the change for smoother experiences moving forward. No further details on nationwide expansion timelines were provided in the statement, though earlier announcements indicated a phased approach across all FAAN-m

anaged facilities.