Nigeria’s aviation sector is gradually moving toward a full digital payment framework as the federal government pushes forward with the cashless airports policy.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has once again confirmed that authorities will not abandon plans to eliminate physical cash transactions at airport facilities across the country.
Speaking during a monitoring visit to the tollgate area of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the minister explained that the temporary hybrid payment arrangement currently in place is only designed to ease the transition to a fully digital system.
The visit allowed him to observe how the interim process operates and identify possible areas for improvement.
According to Keyamo, the cashless airports policy remains a top priority for the government because it is expected to improve transparency, strengthen revenue monitoring, and reduce the possibility of financial leakages in airport operations.
He noted that although both cash and electronic payments are presently allowed at certain points within airport facilities, the arrangement will soon be phased out once the digital infrastructure becomes fully operational.
The minister explained that the transition period was introduced mainly to give airport users time to adapt to electronic payment channels.
Travellers, drivers, and other airport visitors are gradually becoming familiar with the available options such as card payments, digital transfers, and other electronic platforms.
Keyamo also directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to ensure that digital payment options remain more affordable than traditional cash transactions.
By making electronic payments cheaper and more convenient, the government hopes to encourage quicker acceptance of the new system among airport users.
He emphasized that the cashless airports policy is not just an initiative of the aviation ministry but part of a broader financial reform introduced by the federal government.
The policy aligns with an official directive that instructs ministries, departments, and agencies to stop collecting physical cash in order to promote accountability and reduce opportunities for corruption.
During the inspection, Keyamo warned that attempts by individuals or groups to frustrate the new payment system would not be tolerated.
According to him, the country has already moved beyond the era when government agencies relied heavily on physical cash collections.
The minister also revealed that the push for cashless airports policy implementation received strong backing from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said the president recently issued a clear deadline for the aviation ministry to complete the transition to a fully electronic system across Nigerian airports.
Keyamo explained that the directive was communicated during a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, where the president stressed the importance of modernizing payment systems in key sectors of the economy.
As a result, the aviation ministry has intensified efforts to accelerate the digital transformation of airport revenue points.
According to the minister, the responsibility for implementing the new payment structure initially rested mainly with the aviation authorities, particularly FAAN.
However, he said he has now taken more direct oversight of the process in order to ensure that the project is completed within the timeframe set by the presidency.
By personally supervising the implementation process, Keyamo believes the ministry can remove operational bottlenecks and ensure that the cashless airports policy is introduced smoothly without disrupting airport activities.
He also warned that officials who fail to perform their responsibilities in the transition process would be held accountable.
In addition to improving transparency, the minister explained that a fully digital payment structure would also enhance operational efficiency within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Automated payments reduce delays at tollgates and other revenue points, while electronic records make financial tracking easier for regulators.
Experts in the aviation industry have also expressed support for the cashless airports policy, noting that many international airports around the world already rely heavily on digital payment systems.
Such systems help reduce manual errors, strengthen revenue accountability, and improve service delivery for passengers.
For travellers using Nigerian airports, the shift is expected to make transactions quicker and more convenient.
With electronic payments replacing cash handling, passengers will be able to complete tollgate and service payments using cards, mobile transfers, or other digital channels.
Keyamo concluded that the temporary hybrid arrangement currently operating at Abuja’s airport will soon give way to a completely automated system.
Once the digital infrastructure is finalized, airport facilities across Nigeria will operate under a fully electronic payment model.
The government believes the cashless airports policy will ultimately strengthen financial management within the aviation sector while aligning Nigeria with global best practices in airport operations.
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