The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, has affirmed that there is no going back on the cashless policy at the nation’s airports.
Keyamo made the assertion on Friday, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja, during an on-the-spot assessment of the hybrid payment system newly adopted by the government.
The minister, however, explained that the government was only considering the people that were yet to obtain the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) cashless card to be using cash pending the nation’s full migration to a cashless system.
“We decided to go back to the drawing boards to see what we can do to prevent revenue loss and ease the traffic.
“That was the reason why we came up with this hybrid system now.
“So, those who have the cards already can continue using their cards; as such, money goes straight into the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which is the federation account.
Look, there is no going back on the cashless system. It is too late for those who think they can frustrate the cashless system because they like the cash collection system.
“This nation has passed such a stage. There is limited time left for the hybrid system,” Keyamo stressed.
The minister reiterated the existing federal government’s directive that no federal agency should ever collect cash.The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reiterated that the federal government remains committed to implementing a cashless policy across all Nigerian airports.
Speaking on Friday during an inspection of the newly introduced hybrid payment system at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja, Keyamo said there would be no reversal of the policy.
The hybrid payment system was introduced following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to temporarily suspend the full cashless implementation. According to the minister, the interim arrangement allows passengers who have not yet obtained the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) cashless card to make cash payments, pending the complete transition to a digital system.
“We reviewed the process to prevent revenue leakages and ensure smoother airport operations. Those with FAAN cards can continue using them, and payments go directly into the Treasury Single Account (TSA),” Keyamo explained.
He maintained that the government would not revert to the old cash-handling practice, stressing that the hybrid system is only a temporary measure. “There’s no going back on the cashless system,” he said. “This country has moved beyond cash collections, and the hybrid phase will not last long.”
Keyamo also reminded all federal agencies of the standing directive prohibiting cash transactions.
