Abuja – More than 100,000 airport access cards have been issued to motorists nationwide as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to enforce a cashless payment system at airport tollgates, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, has revealed.
Kuku stated on Monday that 62,000 of the cards were distributed within just three days of rolling out the policy, which initially caused major disruptions at several airports, leading to long queues and travel delays.
The challenges prompted President Bola Tinubu to temporarily open airport gates, allowing motorists free access over the past five days while officials work to resolve the bottlenecks.
Kuku acknowledged that the first phase of enforcement created traffic congestion despite prior awareness campaigns. She said, “In implementing the cashless policy, it became hectic because many commuters and passengers were surprised by the March 1st enforcement. It caused significant bottlenecks in the first few days, but we are now seeing traffic easing, especially in Abuja.”
The temporary directive led to FAAN officials vacating airport tollgates, allowing vehicles to move freely without payment or checks, as confirmed by eyewitnesses and motorists like Idris, who described the flow of traffic as much smoother compared to the initial rollout.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, stated that the President’s decision to suspend the system was made out of concern for Nigerians’ welfare, noting that many passengers were missing flights due to congestion. Keyamo added that the ministry and FAAN have been instructed to develop a more efficient electronic solution for nationwide airport access.
