Gridlock Traps Travellers at MMA Tollgate Over New Payment System

Gridlock Traps Travellers at MMA Tollgate Over New Payment System
Passengers Abandon Cars
FAAN Defends Cashless Policy

Heavy traffic snarled movement around the tollgate at the Murtala Muhammed Airport on Sunday following the enforcement of a new cashless payment system by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that the congestion left hundreds of motorists and air travellers stranded, disrupting access to both the domestic and international terminals of the airport.

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Some passengers, worried about missing their flights, reportedly abandoned their vehicles and resorted to commercial motorcycles to beat the traffic.

With motorcycles officially restricted around the airport axis, some operators took advantage of the situation, allegedly hiking fares by as much as 200 per cent to convey desperate travellers.

Several motorists were said to have spent nearly 20 minutes trying to pass through a stretch that ordinarily takes less than a minute, as delays in payment confirmation and failed electronic transfers slowed down clearance at the tollgate. Heated exchanges were also observed between drivers and toll officials.

Many road users accused FAAN of poor planning and inadequate public awareness before rolling out the policy. One motorist, Adebayo Awojobi, lamented spending almost an hour in traffic and questioned how the situation might worsen on a busier weekday.

Gridlock Traps Travellers at MMA Tollgate Over New Payment System — MMIA

However, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, defended the policy, describing it as part of the Federal Government’s broader push for a cashless economy.

He said the measure was introduced to block revenue leakages, curb extortion and enhance transparency in collections at the airport. Agbebire also dismissed claims of insufficient publicity, insisting that adequate sensitisation had been carried out.

According to him, free access cards are available to motorists, although a maintenance fee is deducted when funds are loaded onto the card. He added that some of the delays were caused by users who waited until the last minute to comply with the new payment process.

Despite FAAN’s assurances, the development sparked frustration among travellers who called for improved coordination to prevent a repeat of the disruption.