FAAN Introduces Hybrid Payment System To Ease Airport Congestion
By FIDELUS ZWANSON
FAAN Implements Hybrid Payment System
THE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has temporarily adopted a hybrid payment system at airport toll gates, following a directive from President Bola Tinubu aimed at reducing traffic congestion during the rollout of a cashless policy.
FAAN Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, explained that the decision comes after major gridlocks were reported at key airport toll points, particularly in Lagos, where commuters faced delays while transitioning fully to digital payments.
“The President saw the challenges and directed us to revert temporarily to a hybrid approach,” Kuku said. “This allows us to continue digital transformation while still accommodating cash payments, ensuring passengers do not miss flights.”
Digital Transformation Continues
According to Kuku, the authority had already enrolled over 100,000 users on its digital platform between October 2025 and early March 2026, with 60,000 registrations occurring in the final three days before the 1st March deadline. She noted a 99 percent success rate for cashless card transactions during the initial rollout.
The hybrid system now allows commuters to use their payment cards or pay in cash where necessary, giving FAAN additional time to refine the platform and enhance public awareness.
“This window will help onboard more private technology partners and strengthen checks to prevent revenue leakages,” Kuku said. “It’s also an opportunity to ensure that all payments are properly accounted for and remitted to the federal government.”
No New Deadline Set
While the temporary suspension alleviates immediate traffic issues, no new timeline has been announced for the full phase-out of cash payments. Kuku emphasized that the Presidency has tasked the Ministry of Aviation with refining the system before a complete cashless transition is enforced.
