Nigeria’s airport authority on Sunday urged motorists to remain patient after heavy traffic congestion disrupted access to the country’s two busiest airports on the first day of a nationwide cashless payment rollout.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said gridlock at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport and Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport was caused by drivers attempting to register for new “Go Cashless” cards at toll gates despite prior notices urging early sign-up.
“Despite wide publicity and repeated announcements ahead of the commencement date, a significant number of motorists opted to register at the gates,” FAAN said in a statement.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe authority acknowledged delays at access points, describing them as temporary disruptions typical of major system transitions. It said additional personnel had been deployed, registration points expanded and coordination strengthened to ease traffic flow.
The Go Cashless programme, which eliminates cash payments at airport gates, car parks and lounges, forms part of a broader government push to promote digital transactions.
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Piloted in late 2025 in Lagos and Abuja in partnership with fintech firm Paystack, the system is designed to improve efficiency, transparency and processing speed, while reducing risks linked to cash handling.
FAAN advised airport users to obtain the cards in advance at its offices, access gates or designated bank branches, and to plan ahead for future trips.
“We appeal for patience and cooperation as we work to stabilise and streamline the process,” the authority said.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
