- The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reaffirmed that all revenue points at Nigerian airports will transition to a fully automated, cashless system.
- The current “hybrid” system, which allows for both cash and digital payments, is a temporary measure following a recent suspension by President Bola Tinubu, but a strict federal deadline is now in place.
- Keyamo warned that officials who attempt to frustrate the automation process face dismissal, stating he has taken “full control” of the implementation to ensure transparency.
The Federal Government has sent a clear message to stakeholders and airport users: the era of cash collections at airport tollgates and revenue points is coming to a definitive end.
Eko Hot Blog reports that during an on-the-spot assessment at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Saturday, March 14, 2026, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo declared that there is “no going back” on the automation of airport revenues.
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The Minister’s visit followed the brief reintroduction of a hybrid payment system, a mix of cash and electronic options, ordered by the Presidency.
However, Keyamo clarified that this is merely a transition phase.
He revealed that President Bola Tinubu has set a firm deadline for the aviation sector to go fully cashless, aligning with a broader federal directive that prohibits government agencies from handling physical cash.
To encourage the shift, Keyamo directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to structure the payment system such that digital transactions are cheaper for motorists than cash payments.
This incentive is aimed at curbing the “traditional cash collection method,” which has long been criticized for lack of transparency and revenue leakages.
The Minister did not mince words regarding internal resistance within FAAN. “For those who think they can frustrate the cashless system… we have passed that stage,” Keyamo said. He emphasized his personal accountability to the President, stating, “Before Mr. President sacks me, I will sack other people too. I take full responsibility and I have to take full control.”
Beyond the payment methods, the Minister also signaled a cultural shift at the airports, noting that “VIP privileges” at tollgates and other revenue points would no longer be recognized under the new automated regime.
The move is expected to significantly boost the revenue generated from the country’s 22 airports and streamline the passenger experience.
The Ministry is currently in the process of engaging concessionaires to manage the full technical rollout of the cashless infrastructure, which will eventually replace the stop-gap hybrid system currently managed by FAAN officials.
