Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Festus Keyamo has directed a return to a hybrid system allowing both cash and cards across airports in the country effective Friday.
The decision is in response to gridlock caused by a short-lived cashless payment mandate at airport access gates
Special Adviser on Media to the Minister Tunde Moshood in a statement said the decision followed President Bola Tinubu’s earlier suspension of the fully cashless policy, which snarled traffic at major airports.
Moshood said Minister Keyamo, met with officials from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Ministry executives to review the rollout’s challenges.
He said key measures announced after the meeting include:
• Engaging concessionaires to develop a fully automated electronic system at all airport gates, aiming to phase out cash entirely. • Resuming hybrid payments — cash or card — starting March 13.
• Allowing continued use of existing FAAN Go Cashless Cards and • Maintaining other digital options like POS terminals.
The media aide said members of the public is urged to adopt the FAAN cards as the authority refines its cashless infrastructure.
“This hybrid approach revives prior arrangements while long-term automation advances,” the statement said.
