The Sudden Vacating of Airport Tollgates
Recent developments have seen officials from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) vacate the access tollgates at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. This move occurred shortly after President Bola Tinubu ordered the suspension of the airport cashless policy. According to reliable reports, FAAN officials temporarily left the access gates due to a presidential directive that allowed motorists to use the gates for free during this period.
It is worth recalling that President Tinubu had halted the cashless regime at airport tollgates, which had led to confusion and traffic gridlock at major airports, particularly in Lagos and Abuja. Following the directive on Wednesday, the gates were left open without officials collecting the levy. A motorist who passed through the access gate shortly after the announcement noted that no FAAN personnel was present, and barricades at the toll point had been left open, allowing vehicles to move in and out without any form of payment or checks.
“I’m surprised I passed through the tollgate about 20 minutes ago and no single official of FAAN was on ground. I guess they are restrategising,” the motorist said. Eyewitnesses reported that the sudden absence of officials created a free flow of traffic at the usually busy tollgate, in sharp contrast to the long queues experienced earlier when the policy was being enforced.
The Presidential Directive and Its Implications
Yesterday, there was no official at the MMIA tollgate when our correspondent checked. However, a source told our correspondent that the gates were left open on the magnanimity of the President. “This is based on the presidential order. The President said, ‘open’ and it is going to be for a few days. You can’t just leave it like that. The idea is, ‘let the President’s generosity be felt. Let everybody feel happy.’”
The source added, “I am sure very soon, maybe by Monday FAAN will man the place again. But for now it is taken that it is just free.” Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, had announced the directive of the President while briefing state house correspondents after the federal executive council meeting. He stated that the President was concerned about the welfare of Nigerians and the fact that most Nigerians were missing their flights.
“Mr. President was very concerned about the welfare of Nigerians and the fact that most Nigerians were missing their flights. So Mr President, out of empathy, directed today that we should suspend the present system because it creates a lot of gridlock and Nigerians are suffering as a result of it,” Keyamo said.
Clarification from the FAAN MD
However, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, clarified that President Bola Tinubu did not suspend the airport cashless toll policy but instructed the agency to refine its implementation before full rollout. Speaking with newsmen yesterday, she described the President’s intervention as a “major win” for the aviation industry.
She explained that the directive allows the agency to adopt a hybrid approach, combining cashless and cash payments, while addressing operational challenges and traffic gridlock experienced at some airports. “You heard the Honourable Minister yesterday following the Federal Executive Council meeting where Mr. President has asked us not necessarily to suspend but to make sure that the process itself is improved before it gets rolled out. I consider this to be a major win for FAAN as well as the Ministry of Aviation,” she said.
Implementation and Future Plans
FAAN noted that the cashless policy preparations began in October 2025, with public enlightenment campaigns in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency. Over 100,000 users were enrolled into the system, including 60,000 registrations in the final three days before the initial March 1 deadline. The agency reported a 99 percent success rate for deployed cashless cards.
Addressing concerns about revenue leakages, the MD emphasized that checks and balances would continue to ensure that funds reach the federal government. “Even while collecting cash during this period, measures will be put in place to minimize leakages before a full transition to cashless payments,” she added. She stated that the extended period effectively acts as a pilot phase, allowing FAAN to refine the system, gather feedback, and implement lessons learned before full enforcement resumes.
The FAAN MD reiterated that the policy is not cancelled, and assured the public that with improved awareness, infrastructure adjustments, and expanded user access, the cashless system will ultimately enhance efficiency, transparency, and convenience across Nigerian airports.
