The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it has issued more than 70,000 Go Cashless cards to passengers and airport users in a bid to ease congestion and restore normal operations following disruptions linked to the rollout of its nationwide cashless payment policy. The development comes after days of complaints from travellers over delays and bottlenecks at airport entry and parking points, as the new system replaced cash transactions across FAAN-managed facilities.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, acknowledged the initial challenges and offered an apology to affected passengers. “I think first I should start by apologising. We express our profound apology for the distress some of our road users and passengers have gone through in the last two days,” Agbebire said.
He explained that the authority had moved swiftly to mitigate the pressure triggered by the policy’s implementation, including accelerating the distribution of the Go Cashless cards to facilitate smoother access to airport services. “But the good news is we had to mitigate and make efforts to ensure that the pressure right now has reduced a bit. Things got better today, and we are hoping that in a few days’ time, just a few days from now, things will normalise,” he assured.
Addressing Operational Strain The cashless policy, introduced across FAAN-operated airports nationwide, is part of broader efforts to modernise revenue collection, improve transparency, and reduce cash handling within airport environments. However, the transition led to temporary operational strain, particularly in high-traffic airports, as passengers adjusted to the new payment requirements. Agbebire noted that additional personnel and support systems had been deployed to manage the situation, while more card distribution points were created to fast-track access for travellers.
Industry observers say the success of the initiative will depend largely on sustained public awareness campaigns and efficient technical support to prevent future disruptions. Despite the early hiccups, FAAN maintained that the cashless system is a long-term reform aimed at enhancing efficiency and aligning Nigeria’s airport operations with global best practices.
