FAAN Issues 70,000 Cards for Airport Cashless Drive, Stem Initial Challenges

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has distributed more than 70,000 Go-Cashless cards in an effort to stabilise its newly implemented cashless payment system at Nigerian airports.

The initiative is designed to ease transactions, reduce congestion at toll gates, and modernise revenue collection by eliminating dependence on physical cash.

The cashless policy, which became fully operational on March 1, 2026, affects payment points such as parking facilities and airport access gates.

While the system aims to enhance efficiency and transparency, its introduction has faced teething problems, including traffic congestion and delays that left some travellers stranded and others missing flights.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, acknowledged the difficulties experienced during the initial rollout.

He expressed regret over the disruptions and apologised to affected passengers and road users. I think first I should start by apologising.

We express our profound apology for the distress some of our road users and passengers have gone through in the last two days,” Agbebire stated.

He noted that mitigation measures had been implemented to reduce pressure on the system. The good news is we had to mitigate and make efforts to ensure that the pressure right now has reduced a bit.

Things got better today, and we are hoping that in a few days’ time—just a few days from now—things will normalise,” he assured.

FAAN maintained that the cashless policy remains crucial for improving operational efficiency and reducing risks associated with cash handling.

The authority has deployed additional staff to assist with card issuance and onboarding, while encouraging travellers to obtain their cards in advance and arrive early at airports to avoid delays.

Multiple payment options, including RFID-enabled e-tags and debit card transactions at POS terminals, remain available. However, officials reiterated that the Go-Cashless card is the fastest and most reliable method for transactions.

As the system continues to be refined, FAAN expressed optimism that the initiative will soon stabilise, ultimately delivering smoother airport operations and improved passenger experiences.