Festus Keyamo, Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, extended his apologies to citizens for the significant traffic congestion at airport toll gates across the country that accompanied the adoption of a cashless payment policy.
Keyamo made the remarks on Sunday night while accepting the Minister of the Year award at a ceremony hosted by Silverbird Communications Ltd at Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos, where he was recognized along with other distinguished award winners.
In his acceptance remarks, he acknowledged the difficulties faced by drivers and air travelers following the enforcement of a cashless transaction policy at toll plazas.
"We transitioned to a cashless system today. The government’s objective is to phase out cash transactions at our toll gates. This has been regulatory for several years, and we are now implementing it fully," he stated.
He elaborated that the government had previously advised motorists to secure their bank-enabled payment cards in anticipation of this transition to facilitate smooth access at airport entrance points.
As per Keyamo's explanation, drivers are instructed to tap their cards at designated areas to activate the automated gates.
However, he cautioned that cash payments would no longer be accepted, warning that motorists arriving at toll gates without valid payment cards might encounter delays.
"At the gate, simply scan your card and the barrier will lift. If you arrive with cash, you will face embarrassment as entry will not be permitted," he cautioned.
While appealing for the public’s understanding, Keyamo emphasized that the cashless system aims to enhance government revenue, minimize corruption, and modernize airport operations throughout the nation.
He encouraged Nigerians to support this reform by obtaining the necessary payment cards before visiting the airports again, expressing confidence that initial challenges would dissipate as compliance improves.
The cashless initiative, which began officially on Sunday, resulted in considerable traffic backups at toll gates of major airports, with officials attributing these disruptions to last-minute adjustments made by motorists adapting to the new system.
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