Motorists faced significant confusion on Sunday when the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) began fully cashless operations at the entrance gates of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The new policy led to severe traffic congestion, leaving many drivers stranded and frustrated.
The abrupt enforcement allowed only motorists with the newly introduced Go Cashless cards to access the toll gates. Those without the cards were either turned back or required to register immediately, further intensifying the bottleneck at the busy entry point.
Despite FAAN’s awareness campaign since 2025, many motorists were caught off guard, either unaware of the policy’s start date at airport gates or having postponed obtaining the necessary payment cards.
“I drive this route daily and knew about the cashless policy, but I didn’t realize it would be enforced right at the entrance gate,” said John Ameh, one of the affected motorists, expressing his frustration at the unexpected disruption.
In an official statement, FAAN acknowledged the traffic gridlock and apologized for the inconvenience. The agency explained that the full rollout of the Go Cashless Programme at both Abuja and Murtala Muhammed International Airports was in line with the Federal Government’s directive on cashless transactions.
FAAN also noted that, despite repeated announcements and notices before launch, many motorists chose to register for their cards at the gates on the first day, placing extra pressure on toll lanes and causing temporary gridlock.
While conceding that some initial challenges were inevitable in a transition of this magnitude, FAAN emphasized that ample time had been given for early registration to prevent such congestion.
To manage the situation, FAAN said it has deployed more personnel at access points, expanded registration centres to speed up card issuance, and improved on-ground coordination to ease traffic flow.
The Authority appealed for patience and cooperation, stating that the cashless initiative aims to deliver long-term benefits such as faster processing, enhanced transparency, reduced risks from cash handling, and a more efficient airport experience.
Motorists who have not yet obtained their Go Cashless cards are encouraged to take advantage of the expanded registration services and to plan ahead for future visits. FAAN reassured the public of its commitment to a safe, efficient, and world-class airport environment.
