Henry Agbebire of FAAN Apologizes for Disruptions Caused by Cashless Policy at Airports, Vows Quick Restoration of Normal Operations

Henry Agbebire, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), expressed his regrets to the public over the disruptions that have arisen due to the implementation of its new cashless policy across airports in the nation.

In a statement, Agbebire assured that the Authority is actively working to alleviate the issues and expects operations to stabilize shortly.

The introduction of the cashless payment system was aimed at transforming the way revenue is collected at airports, impacting areas such as access gates, toll booths, car parks, and executive lounges. The policy, part of FAAN's 'Operation Go Cashless' initiative, became effective on March 1, 2026.

During an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Agbebire remarked, "First and foremost, I want to apologize. We sincerely regret any distress experienced by our road users and passengers over the last couple of days."

He continued, "The positive development is that we have made measures to reduce the pressure, and improvement was observed today. We anticipate that in a matter of days—just a few days from now—things will return to normal."

Agbebire clarified that the initial chaos stemmed primarily from many travelers delaying their registration for the Go Cashless card, despite FAAN's months of preceding awareness campaigns, which resulted in intense pressure at airport entry points.

"For context, we began our awareness efforts in October of the previous year. We launched the Go Cashless card then and commenced our campaigns to inform, advertise, and onboard passengers. "

He detailed, "By the deadline on February 28, we had onboarded around 30,000 cards. However, as is often the case in Nigeria, many waited until the last moment. With March 1 being the final date set by the Federal Government, we were compelled to launch the initiative, resulting in significant congestion since numerous individuals had not previously registered. Our team worked tirelessly to register them on-site, but this understandably caused complications."

According to Agbebire, there was an unexpected increase in registrations right before the policy rollout, with over 40,000 cards being issued in the last few days alone.

"In the past three days, we onboarded an additional 40,000."

He emphasized that even with the extensive outreach efforts, many passengers delayed their registrations until the very end.

"We did not rest on our laurels. The two weeks prior to the deadline were critical for intensifying our awareness campaigns to ensure that the public was informed about the cashless program. Since the March 1 deadline was definitive, we issued press releases, placed advertisements, utilized radio announcements, and erected signposts at our entrances, but the response remained inadequate until after the rollout began."

As explained by Agbebire, while the Go Cashless card is regarded as the most efficient method of payment, alternatives include E-tags and debit cards.

"There are actually several options available—four in total—but the Go Cashless card is the most straightforward and practical. We ensured it was introduced well ahead of the deadline to facilitate timely access for users. The card is contactless and is intended to expedite entry at access points. It was necessary to ensure a smooth onboarding process."

He noted, "Passengers or road users can also utilize their debit cards, although this option tends to be slower, potentially causing delays. We also recommend obtaining an E-tag, valid for a year, for quick access. Regular-use vehicles may receive VIP E-tags to ensure seamless entry. Hence, if you don't have the Go Cashless card, you can use an E-tag or your debit card, but this may contribute to slower processing times. We have currently issued over 70,000 cards, and we anticipate that pressure will ease as the government's cashless initiative gains wider acceptance."

Looking ahead, Agbebire forecasts a return to normal traffic flow within the next week and urges passengers to arrive at the airport earlier to prevent flight delays.

"We are optimistic about returning to normalcy, likely within a week. However, we recommend that travelers consider arriving an additional 30 minutes to an hour earlier to avoid any possibility of missing their flights. Our organization is dedicated to improving customer experiences, and we are committed to making the necessary adjustments to achieve this, " he asserted.