Keyamo made the apology on Sunday night while receiving the Minister of the Year award at a ceremony organised by Silverbird Communications Ltd at Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos. He was honoured alongside other distinguished awardees.
In his acceptance speech, the minister acknowledged the inconvenience experienced by motorists and airport users after authorities began enforcing the no-cash directive at toll points. “Today we went cashless. The policy of this government is to eliminate the collection of cash at our toll gates. It has been the law for many years, and we are now fully implementing it,” he said.
Keyamo explained that the government had repeatedly urged motorists to obtain bank-enabled payment cards ahead of the transition to ensure smooth access at airport gates. Under the new system, motorists are expected to tap their cards at designated points to trigger automated barriers.
However, the minister cautioned that cash payments would no longer be accepted and warned that motorists arriving without valid cards may face delays. “When you get to the gate, just press your card and the barrier will open. If you come with cash, you will experience embarrassment because nobody will allow you to pass,” he said.
Appealing for public cooperation, Keyamo stressed that the cashless system is intended to optimise government revenue, curb corruption, and modernise airport operations nationwide. He urged Nigerians to obtain the required cards before their next airport visit, expressing confidence that initial challenges would ease as compliance improves.
The policy, which officially commenced on Sunday, triggered gridlocks at toll gates in major airports, with officials attributing the disruptions to motorists adjusting at the last minute to the new system. Authorities have assured that as more users adopt the cashless method, traffic flow is expected to normalise.