- Safiu Kehinde
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has affirmed the ministry’s stance on the cashless policy at airports across the nation.
Keyamo reiterated that there is no going back on the implementation of the cashless policy.
The Minister made the this known on Friday, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja, during on-the-spot assessment of hybrid payment system newly adopted by the government
NPO Reported that the Keyamo had earlier this week introduced the hybrid payment system at airport access gates nationwide following President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of the full implementation of the Go Cashless policy.
Tinubu’s suspension of the policy came under the heels of the severe traffic congestion and long queues of vehicles caused by the rushed implementation of the cashless policy.
This made it difficult for motorists to complete electronic payments quickly.
The delays led to passengers arriving late at the terminals and missing their flights, creating hardship and operational disruptions at major airports.
However, Keyamo, in his address at the NAIA yesterday, explained that the government was only considering the people that were yet to obtain Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) cashless card to be using cash pending the nation’s full migration to 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 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.
Keyamo disclosed that the government had started discussing with concessionaires, who would come and make the airports fully automated.
He reiterated the government resolve to stop the corrupt cash payment system at the nation’s airports which has lingered for 50 years.