Airport authority pledges improvements to payment system after rollout confusion sparked complaints from travellers….
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reaffirmed that the newly introduced cashless payment policy at Nigerian airports will remain in force, despite the confusion and criticism that followed its recent implementation.
Speaking with journalists on Thursday, FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, clarified that the policy has not been suspended, contrary to reports circulating in the media. Instead, she said the Federal Government has directed the agency to refine the process to ensure smoother operations for airport users.
The clarification comes after widespread complaints from travellers who experienced difficulties with the system, particularly at aerodrome gates where the transition to electronic payments led to delays and operational disruptions.
Policy to Continue With Improvements
According to Kuku, the directive to review the implementation followed guidance from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) after deliberations involving the aviation sector.
She explained that the council’s position was not to halt the policy but to ensure that the rollout becomes more efficient before full-scale implementation across airport facilities.
“You heard the minister yesterday following the Federal Executive Council meeting where Mr. President has asked us not necessarily to suspend but to make sure that the process itself is improved before it gets rolled out,” Kuku said.
Policy Planned Months in Advance
The FAAN boss stressed that the shift to cashless payments was not an abrupt decision, noting that the agency had spent months preparing for the transition.
According to her, the policy was first introduced last year through extensive public awareness campaigns aimed at informing travellers and airport operators about the move toward digital payments.
She added that the National Orientation Agency also participated in the campaign, promoting the initiative through its social media platforms as early as October.
Hybrid System Initially Proposed
Kuku further revealed that FAAN had initially proposed a hybrid payment system, which would have allowed both electronic and cash transactions to run simultaneously during the transition period.
However, the agency was eventually directed to proceed with the implementation of the cashless policy following approval by the Federal Government.
“We were asked to implement a Federal Government directive which was done at the Federal Executive Council. This was what we were pushing towards, but unfortunately, we were given a deadline,” she explained.
Praise for Tinubu’s Approach
While acknowledging the challenges experienced during the rollout, Kuku commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what she described as a pragmatic approach to governance.
She noted that the President’s directive to refine the process before wider implementation reflects an understanding of the operational realities within airport environments.
According to her, the policy remains an important step toward modernising airport operations and improving transparency in revenue collection across Nigeria’s aviation sector.
FAAN says it will continue working with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to address the challenges identified during the early phase of implementation, while ensuring that airport users experience a smoother and more efficient payment process going forward.
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