FAAN Issued Over 100,000 Airport Access Cards Before Tinubu Suspended Cashless Toll Policy
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has revealed that more than 100,000 motorists nationwide obtained airport access cards as part of the federal government's initiative to implement a cashless toll system at airport gates. This disclosure comes shortly before President Bola Tinubu ordered the temporary suspension of the policy due to significant disruptions at airport entrances.
Massive Registration Surge in Three Days
FAAN's Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, announced on Monday that approximately 62,000 of these access cards were issued within just three days after enforcement of the new payment system began at airports across the country. This represents a substantial portion of the total registrations, highlighting both the scale of implementation and the challenges that followed.
The rollout of this cashless policy caused major operational disruptions at airport entrances, particularly in Lagos and Abuja, where long queues and traffic gridlock prevented many passengers from reaching departure terminals on time. The congestion became so severe that it prompted President Tinubu to direct that airport tollgates be temporarily opened to motorists without requiring payment.
Disruptions Follow Cashless Toll Rollout
The federal government had introduced the cashless toll system as part of its broader digital payment drive at airport access gates. However, when enforcement officially began on March 1, 2026, numerous motorists reportedly arrived without the necessary access cards or digital payment arrangements prepared.
This lack of preparedness led to extensive bottlenecks at several airport entry points, with passengers traveling through major airports struggling to navigate the resulting congestion. Following widespread public complaints about the situation, the president ordered an immediate suspension of the system and mandated free passage for vehicles as a temporary relief measure.
FAAN Explains Registration Patterns
Speaking on these developments, Managing Director Kuku acknowledged that the initial enforcement created significant bottlenecks despite earlier awareness campaigns conducted by the authority. According to her statement, many commuters did not anticipate that the policy would be strictly enforced from the announced implementation date.
She noted that the surge in access card registrations demonstrated that motorists were gradually adapting to the system, with FAAN having registered over 100,000 users between October, when the program started, and early March. The majority of these registrations occurred within the first few days of enforcement, indicating a reactive rather than proactive adoption pattern among users.
Motorists Report Free Access Following Suspension
Following the presidential directive, FAAN officials stationed at airport tollgates reportedly vacated the entry points, allowing vehicles to move freely without obstruction. A motorist identified simply as Idris told journalists that he had driven through the tollgate several times in the past five days without encountering FAAN officials or paying any fees.
Eyewitnesses also reported that the absence of officials resulted in smooth traffic flow at tollgates that were previously congested during the early days of the policy's enforcement. This immediate improvement highlighted the direct impact of the policy suspension on airport access conditions.
Government Reviews Electronic Payment System
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the president's directive after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council. According to his statement, the decision was taken after concerns emerged that the new system was causing serious delays and making passengers miss their flights.
Keyamo explained that the government had instructed the aviation ministry and FAAN to temporarily return to the previous toll payment arrangement while work continues on developing a more efficient electronic solution for airport access across the country. This review process aims to address the implementation challenges while maintaining the goal of digital payment adoption.
The cashless toll payment policy had taken full effect on March 1, 2026, eliminating cash transactions at airport gates and compelling motorists to use a payment card known as 'go-cashless.' The rollout triggered severe traffic congestion around Lagos and Abuja airport access roads, ultimately leading to the presidential intervention and policy suspension.
