The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has insisted that the cashless payment policy at Nigerian airports will remain in place, despite the confusion and complaints that trailed its recent rollout.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday at the airport, the Managing Director of FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, said the directive remains a key government policy but assured passengers that steps are being taken to improve its implementation following concerns raised by travellers and airport users.
She explained that the decision followed guidance from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development after deliberations at the Federal Executive Council.
Recall that media reports stated that the controversial cashless policy, which led to chaos at the airport, particularly at the aerodrome gate, was reportedly suspended on Wednesday.
According to Kuku, the council did not order the suspension of the policy but directed that the process be improved to make it more efficient for airport users.
“You heard the minister yesterday following the Federal Executive Council meeting where Mr. President has asked us not necessarily to suspend but to make sure that the process itself is improved before it gets rolled out,” Kuku stated.
The authority described the directive as a major boost for both the agency and the aviation ministry, stressing that the policy was not a sudden decision but one that had been in the works for several months.
FAAN further explained that preparations for the policy began last year with extensive awareness campaigns aimed at educating airport users about the transition from cash to electronic payments.
The FAAN boss stated, “I consider this to be a major win for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria as well as the Ministry of Aviation.
“So if you recall, we actually started the cashless policy last year. We started a lot of enlightenment; even the National Orientation Agency, you can check their Instagram and their social media handles, had publicised it as far back as October of last year.”
The authority said the implementation followed a directive of the Federal Government approved at the Federal Executive Council, adding that the agency had earlier proposed a gradual approach.
“We were asked to implement a Federal Government directive, which was done at the Federal Executive Council. This was what we were pushing towards, but unfortunately, we were given a deadline.”
According to FAAN, the agency had initially suggested a hybrid arrangement that would allow both electronic and cash payments to run simultaneously during the transition period. “We had actually asked for a hybrid approach that allows us to do both cashless and automated.”
While reaffirming its commitment to the policy, FAAN expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for what it described as a pragmatic approach to governance.
“So, for me and the agency, we actually thank Mr President for this laudable initiative. The fact that the President is not just taking Federal Government initiatives or policy rollouts, but understanding the nature of every environment,” the FAAN boss stated.
