Traffic Jam at Lagos Airport Following FAAN's Cashless Payment Policy Launch

A major traffic disturbance unfolded at the Murtala Muhammed Airport tollgate in Lagos yesterday, coinciding with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) implementing a new cashless payment initiative for vehicles entering the airport.

Numerous drivers and air passengers found themselves stuck in congestion as traffic built up along the main access road to both domestic and international terminals. Reports indicate that some motorists spent up to 20 minutes traversing a distance that would typically take less than a minute.

In a bid to catch their flights on time, passengers were observed leaving their vehicles to hire commercial motorcycles. Despite an existing ban on motorcycles near the airport, riders capitalized on the situation, reportedly increasing fares by as much as 200 percent for anxious travelers.

The tollgate, essential for entering the airport complex, became a hotspot for intense confrontations between motorists and airport officials as issues arose with electronic transactions failing or payment confirmations experiencing delays. Several drivers blamed FAAN for inadequate planning and insufficient public knowledge regarding the policy's implementation.

A motorist named Adebayo Awojobi stated, "I have been in this traffic for almost an hour. Today is Sunday. How worse will it get tomorrow? The agency officials insisted the process was strictly cashless, yet they appeared unprepared for the influx of vehicles."

In response to the frustration, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, explained that the cashless system aims to curb revenue losses and is aligned with the Federal Government’s efforts toward a cashless economy.

Agbebire asserted that the initiative would help minimize extortion and enhance revenue collection for the agency, dismissing claims of inadequate publicity surrounding the policy.

He further noted that the congestion was partly due to users waiting until the last minute to acquire or recharge their access cards, clarifying that while the card is available without charge, a N500 fee applies when loading funds of N1,000 or N2,000 for maintenance.

This disruption occurs against a backdrop of ongoing issues in Nigeria’s aviation sector, with recent flight cancellations connected to international disputes and demands from industry leaders for better infrastructure and operational organization.

It remains to be seen whether officials will make further adjustments to facilitate smoother traffic flow as the cashless initiative continues to unfold. Watch the video below…………………