BREAKING: Massive Gridlock At Airports As FAAN Cashless Rollout Policy Kicks-Off
Nigerian airports witnessed severe traffic congestion on Sunday following the enforcement of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s (FAAN) mandatory cashless access system.
The new policy, which took effect on March 1, requires motorists to use prepaid contactless cards to access airport toll gates. The rollout led to massive gridlock at Murtala Muhammed International Airport and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, with several passengers reportedly missing flights.
What Triggered the Breakdown?
FAAN, in partnership with Paystack, had announced the transition in September 2025, giving motorists several months to obtain and activate their Go Cashless cards ahead of the March deadline.
However, on the first full day of enforcement, a significant number of drivers arrived at airport gates without prepaid cards and attempted on-the-spot registration. This created bottlenecks at toll lanes, causing traffic to stretch for kilometres in both Lagos and Abuja.
Travellers took to X (formerly Twitter) to express frustration, with some advising passengers to leave hours earlier than scheduled departure times due to the congestion.
FAAN’s Response
In a statement issued Sunday, FAAN acknowledged the disruption, attributing the gridlock to last-minute registrations at access points despite prior publicity and notices.
The authority described the situation as temporary and announced immediate corrective measures, including:
- Deployment of additional personnel to toll gates
- Expansion of card registration points
- Improved on-ground coordination to ease traffic flow
FAAN appealed for patience and cooperation, stating that the initiative aims to deliver long-term efficiency and revenue transparency.
The policy aligns with a federal government directive mandating ministries, departments, and agencies to eliminate physical cash collections in favour of electronic payment systems. The directive is intended to enhance accountability, reduce revenue leakages, and enforce Treasury Single Account compliance.
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), described the disruption as a short-term adjustment phase necessary for smoother operations going forward.
What This Means for Airport Users
FAAN maintains that once fully stabilised, the cashless system will:
- Speed up access processing
- Improve financial transparency
- Reduce risks associated with cash handling
- Create a more efficient airport environment
Motorists who have not yet obtained the Go Cashless card are advised to complete registration before their next airport visit to avoid repeat delays.
The incident highlights the operational risks of large-scale digital transitions when user adoption lags behind policy enforcement—particularly in high-traffic infrastructure environments like international airports
