The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development has directed the introduction of a hybrid payment system at airport access gates nationwide following the earlier suspension of the full cashless system that led to traffic gridlock at some airports.

The Minister stated that from Friday, March 13, 2026, airports will resume the hybrid payment arrangement, allowing both cash and electronic payments at all airport access gates.

The decision came after a meeting between the minister, officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and senior officials of the ministry to review the initial implementation of the cashless access gate payment system and the operational challenges encountered.

The full cashless system had earlier been suspended on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu due to the congestion it created at airport entrances.

After reviewing the situation, the minister resolved to engage concessionaires to introduce a fully automated electronic payment system at all airport access gates in the long term with the aim of eventually eliminating cash payments.

He stated that motorists who already possess the FAAN Go Cashless Cards are permitted to continue using them until further notice, while other electronic payment options, including Point of Sale (POS) terminals and other approved digital channels, will also remain operational.

The minister urged members of the public and road users to obtain and use the FAAN Go Cashless Card as the authority continues to improve and optimise the cashless payment system.

According to the minister, the directive effectively restores the previous access gate payment arrangement while efforts continue towards deploying a fully automated electronic system across the nation’s airports.