Operation ‘Go Cashless’ goes national as FAAN, in partnership with Paystack, phases out physical cash at access gates, car parks, and VIP lounges…..
Air travelers across Nigeria will soon need to leave their cash behind.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced that all airport payment points nationwide will operate a fully cashless and contactless system beginning March 1, 2026. The move marks a major shift in how transactions are handled at the country’s airports and signals the final phase of a transition that began late last year.
In a post shared on X on Friday, the authority confirmed the rollout date and urged airport users to prepare ahead of the transition.
“Effective Date: March 1, 2026. Pick up your Go-Cashless card at all commercial offices and Access Gates nationwide,” FAAN stated.
The initiative is part of Operation Go Cashless, first unveiled on September 26, 2025. The system was developed in collaboration with Nigerian fintech company Paystack, which is providing the digital infrastructure powering the contactless payments.
Under the new regime, physical cash will gradually disappear from key revenue points within airport premises. This includes payments made at access gates, car parks, VIP and protocol lounges, and other designated collection centers. Travelers and airport users will instead rely on electronic payment channels and FAAN’s dedicated Go-Cashless card for transactions.
The rollout began on September 30, 2025, with pilot implementation in Lagos and Abuja. With those initial deployments underway, FAAN is now expanding the system to cover airports nationwide.
Beyond improving convenience, the transition is also tied to a broader federal government directive prohibiting ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) from collecting physical cash for revenue transactions. Authorities have expressed concern over continued breaches of established electronic payment guidelines and Treasury Single Account (TSA) policies.
In a formal directive, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, warned that the collection or acceptance of physical cash whether in naira or foreign currencies for federal government revenue is strictly prohibited.
“All revenue collections, for and on behalf of the Federal Government must be made via electronic processing,” the directive emphasized.
To enforce compliance, MDAs have been instructed to sensitize both staff and the public while displaying clear notices at revenue points stating “No physical cash receipt / No cash payment.”
For FAAN, the policy shift is expected to deliver faster transaction times, tighter security, and greater transparency in revenue collection. For passengers, it represents a new airport experience one where digital payments become the only gateway to services within the terminal and beyond.
As the March 2026 deadline approaches, travelers, airport vendors, and service providers are being urged to adapt early. When the switch is finally flipped, cash will no longer open doors at Nigeria’s airports.
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