Nigeria says the cashless airport policy will not be reversed.
Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, made the declaration during a personal inspection of the hybrid payment system at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
He maintained that the FAAN cashless airports hybrid payment arrangement is a temporary bridge not a permanent retreat from the cashless agenda.
He confirmed the gridlock that paralyzed airport access gates last week has cleared significantly.
Additionally, the minister addressed staff and press directly at the access gates.
“The hybrid payment would only last for a short while as the limited cash payment would eventually be eliminated to curb corruption and ensure transparency within the system.”
Keyamo confirmed discussions with concessionaires are already underway to automate airport access gates nationwide.
“We plan to soon engage concessionaires to install electronic gates to make the process fully automated. This nation has passed such a stage. There is limited time left for the hybrid system.”
Earlier today, I was at the Access Gates at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja to monitor the flow of traffic following the introduction of FAAN’s hybrid payment collection system. The system has proved effective for now, as the gridlock earlier experienced… pic.twitter.com/JXsZEqpEb2
Travellers with FAAN Go Cashless Cards continue using electronic payments at airport access gates.
Travellers without cashless cards can still pay in cash during the transition period.
Furthermore, Keyamo confirmed that all payments made through airport cards flow directly into Nigeria’s Treasury Single Account.
Therefore, the hybrid arrangement eliminates the revenue leakages associated with cash collection at Nigerian airports.
What Airport Users Must Know
The hybrid payment system is atransitional arrangement only accommodating cash users who have not yet obtained the FAAN Go Cashless Card.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development (@fmaviationng), Festus Keyamo @fkeyamo, has reaffirmed that the Federal Government will not reverse the cashless payment policy at the nation’s airports. He made the statement during an inspection of the newly introduced… pic.twitter.com/rbee9wX6Zt
Consequently, airport users are strongly encouraged to obtain the FAAN Go Cashless Card immediately at www.gocashless.faan.gov.ng.
Meanwhile, Keyamo confirmed the government’s resolve to permanently end the cash payment system at Nigeria’s airports, which he described as corrupt and having lingered for 50 years.
