The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, stated that the government remains committed to the policy and will soon complete the transition from the current hybrid payment arrangement to a fully digital system across airports.
Keyamo made the remarks during an inspection visit to the tollgate at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where he assessed the ongoing implementation of the temporary hybrid payment model.
The hybrid system was introduced following the suspension of the initial cashless directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, allowing both cash and electronic payments while authorities fine-tune the digital framework.
Despite the temporary adjustment, the minister insisted that the government’s long-term plan is to eliminate cash collections entirely at federal airport facilities. According to him, a standing directive from the Federal Government requires all agencies to avoid direct cash handling in revenue collection.
Keyamo also disclosed that officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have been instructed to make electronic payment options cheaper than cash transactions in order to encourage passengers and motorists to adopt the system.
He stressed that the hybrid arrangement would only last for a short period, noting that a deadline has already been set by the president for the aviation ministry to complete the transition.
According to the minister, the directive was communicated during a recent meeting of the Federal Executive Council, where the president emphasised the urgency of implementing a fully automated payment structure at airports.
Keyamo further warned that officials responsible for delays or attempts to undermine the process could face sanctions, adding that he would personally oversee the implementation to ensure compliance.
The proposed digital payment system is expected to cover all airport revenue points nationwide, including tollgates, parking services and other operational charges, as part of broader reforms aimed at improving transparency and reducing revenue leakages in the aviation sector.