The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the resumption of a hybrid payment system at airport access gates nationwide from Friday, March 13, 2026.
The directive was announced via a statement from his spokesperson and follows the suspension of the full cashless payment policy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The hybrid system will allow both cash and electronic transactions, aiming to ease traffic gridlocks that occurred during the initial rollout of the cashless system.
The Ministry of Aviation clarified that the hybrid system will be implemented at all airports managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) across the country.
Motorists will be able to pay for airport access using either cash or electronic channels while authorities work to restore an efficient automated system.
Following the earlier suspension of the full cashless Access Gate payment system as directed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, due to the traffic gridlock it created, the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development today met with officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and senior officials of the Ministry,” the statement read.
“In the meantime, a hybrid payment system that accommodates both cash and card payments will resume at all airport access gates with effect from Friday, March 13, 2026.”
The Ministry explained that the hybrid system was necessary after the fully cashless model created operational challenges, including gridlocks at access gates.
Motorists who already have the FAAN Go Cashless Card were advised to continue using it until further notice. Over 100,000 cards have been issued since the rollout.
Other electronic payment options, including POS terminals and approved digital channels, will continue to be available at airports.
The Ministry plans to engage concessionaires to introduce a fully automated system in the future, with the aim of eventually eliminating cash payments.
The public is encouraged to obtain and use the FAAN Go Cashless Card as part of ongoing efforts to optimise the cashless system.
The hybrid model is seen as a temporary but necessary measure to ensure smoother airport access while the Ministry refines the electronic payment system.
