Tinubu Pauses Cashless Toll System After Major Airport Traffic Chaos
In a rapid move to address mounting concerns, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday ordered the suspension of the newly introduced cashless toll system at Nigerian airports, following widespread traffic gridlocks at key terminals in Lagos and Abuja.
The decision came shortly after President Tinubu met with Dr. Olubunmi Kuku, Director-General of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting, which took place just an hour after the suspension was announced, was aimed at discussing the operational issues that led to the policy’s halt. FAAN’s Director-General arrived at the Presidential Villa accompanied by Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, who had earlier spoken to the press following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
While the specifics of the meeting were not disclosed, it was understood that discussions centered on the challenges faced by travelers caught in long queues at toll gates, where the new cashless system led to delays, causing many passengers to miss their flights.
Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, revealed that President Tinubu ordered the suspension due to the disruptions caused by the policy.
“The President was concerned about the welfare of Nigerians, especially those losing their flights due to the gridlock,” Keyamo said, explaining that the decision was driven by empathy for travelers.
The cashless payment system, introduced just a week ago, was designed to reduce corruption and improve revenue collection at airport toll gates. However, its implementation resulted in massive congestion, as many drivers struggled to complete electronic payments at the gates.
Keyamo added that the President had instructed the Ministry of Aviation to work with relevant stakeholders, including private sector operators, to create a more efficient payment system that would eliminate cash transactions without disrupting access to the airports. “The President is keen on finding a quick solution and has asked for progress updates,” he said.
As part of the immediate response, officials are considering a temporary hybrid system that will allow both cash payments and the use of prepaid FAAN cards until a seamless electronic solution is developed.
The suspension of the cashless policy marks a setback for an initiative that was intended to modernize airport toll collection, which had been criticized for enabling corruption and revenue leakages over the past five decades.
With FAAN at the forefront of implementing the new system, the authority will now play a key role in designing a revised, more efficient toll payment framework.