The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has issued more than 100,000 airport access cards to motorists nationwide as part of efforts to implement the Federal Government’s cashless payment system at airport tollgates.
The Managing Director of FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, disclosed the figure on Monday while addressing the challenges that accompanied the rollout of the policy at major airports across the country.
According to Kuku, about 62,000 of the access cards were issued within just three days following the enforcement of the cashless tollgate system, indicating a surge in registrations by motorists.
The development follows widespread disruptions that occurred after the cashless payment policy took effect on March 1, leading to long queues of vehicles and confusion at airport entry points.
The policy implementation triggered heavy traffic congestion at several airports, particularly at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Motorists and passengers reported severe gridlock at airport gates, with some travellers struggling to reach their terminals in time for scheduled flights.
Following the public outcry, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed that airport tollgates be temporarily opened to allow free access for motorists while authorities worked to address the operational challenges.
As a result, motorists have been entering Nigerian airports without paying tolls for the past five days.
Speaking on the situation, Kuku acknowledged that the initial enforcement of the policy created significant bottlenecks despite efforts by FAAN to sensitise the public ahead of the rollout.
She explained that many commuters were sceptical that the policy would actually be implemented on the announced date, which contributed to the confusion experienced in the early stages.
“Despite the awareness campaigns, many passengers and motorists did not believe the enforcement would begin on March 1,” Kuku said.
However, she noted that the situation has begun to improve as more motorists obtain access cards and traffic management measures take effect.
Kuku added that FAAN remains committed to ensuring that airport operations remain efficient while prioritising passenger convenience, safety and security.
She also expressed appreciation to the president for intervening quickly to ease the situation and ensure smoother access to airport facilities.
