Festus Keyamo has reaffirmed that Nigeria’s airports will eventually operate a fully cashless payment system, stating that the federal government has no intention of reversing the policy despite the current use of a hybrid payment arrangement.
The aviation minister made this known during an on-the-spot inspection of the hybrid payment system at the tollgate of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Keyamo explained that the hybrid system—allowing both cash and electronic payments—is only a temporary arrangement while authorities work toward deploying a fully automated platform.
He stressed that the government aims to eliminate cash transactions at airport revenue points and directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to ensure that digital payments are cheaper than cash transactions to encourage wider adoption.
According to the minister, the policy is in line with a federal government directive requiring agencies to stop collecting physical cash. He said there is no going back on the cashless initiative, noting that those hoping to frustrate the system in favour of traditional cash collection methods would not succeed.
Keyamo added that the directive clearly states that no federal agency should collect cash, explaining that the hybrid system will only operate for a limited period.
He also disclosed that Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set a strict deadline for the implementation of a fully cashless system at airports. The minister said the president made it clear during a recent Federal Executive Council meeting that the transition must be completed within the specified timeframe.
Keyamo noted that the presidential directive means he will in turn hold officials under his supervision accountable for meeting the deadline, warning that delays would not be tolerated.
He further revealed that although FAAN had initially been responsible for implementing the payment system, he has now assumed direct oversight of the process to ensure its successful execution.
The minister concluded that the hybrid payment system currently in place at the airport is only a stop-gap measure as the government works toward introducing a completely digital payment framework across Nigeria’s airports.
