- Safiu Kehinde
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the introduction of a hybrid payment system at airport access gates nationwide following the suspension of the initially introduced Go Cashless policy.
NPO Reported that the new initiative had at its enforcement earlier this month backfired as it led to heavy traffic gridlock in airports, especially the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
This prompted President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of the new payment system.
Sequel to the development, Keyamo would introduce the hybrid payment system after meeting with officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and senior officials of the Aviation Ministry
As contained in a statement issued by Mr Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister, Keyamo directed the resumption of the hybrid payment system which accommodates both cash and card payments with effect from Friday.
“The ministry has resolved to engage concessionaires in order to introduce a fully automated or electronic system at all access gates at our airports in order to fully and eventually eliminate cash payments.
”In the meantime, a hybrid payment system that accommodates both cash and card payments will resume at all airport access gates with effect from Friday.
”Motorists who already have the FAAN Go Cashless Cards may continue to use them until further notice. Other electronic payment options, including POS terminals and other approved digital channels, will also remain available,” he said.
Keyamo urged members of the public and road users to obtain and use the “FAAN Go Cashless Card” as the authority continues to enhance and fully optimise the cashless payment system.
According to him, the directive restores the previous access gate payment arrangement while the ministry continues to work on the fully automated or electronic system.