No Going Back on Cashless Policy at Airports, Hybrid System Temporary — Keyamo

‎The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said there is no going back on the cashless payment system at the country’s airports.

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‎Keyamo stated this on Friday at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport during an on-the-spot assessment of the hybrid payment system recently introduced by the government.

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‎The hybrid system was adopted following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the full implementation of the cashless policy.

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‎The minister explained that the temporary hybrid arrangement was introduced to accommodate travellers who are yet to obtain the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) cashless card, allowing them to pay with cash until the country fully transitions to the cashless system.

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‎“We decided to go back to the drawing board to see what we can do to prevent revenue loss and ease the traffic. That was the reason we came up with this hybrid system.

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‎“So those who already have the cards can continue using them, and the money goes directly into the Treasury Single Account, which is the federation account.

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‎“Look, there is no going back on the cashless system. It is too late for those who think they can frustrate the policy because they prefer the cash collection system. This nation has passed that stage. There is limited time left for the hybrid system,” Keyamo said.

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‎He reiterated the federal government’s directive that no government agency should collect cash payments.

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‎Keyamo also revealed that the government has begun discussions with concessionaires who will help automate operations at the nation’s airports.

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‎According to him, the government is determined to end the corrupt cash payment system at Nigerian airports, which he said has existed for about 50 years.

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‎Recall that Tinubu earlier ordered the temporary suspension of the cashless payment system at airport toll gates following complaints about its sudden implementation.

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‎The rushed rollout caused heavy traffic congestion and long queues of vehicles, making it difficult for motorists to complete electronic payments quickly.

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‎The delays resulted in some passengers arriving late at airport terminals and missing their flights, creating hardship and operational disruptions at major airports.

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