Abuja and Lagos — Two of Nigeria’s busiest airports, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, experienced major traffic snarl-ups on Sunday as motorists flocked to register for the new cashless access system.
The Go-Cashless initiative, launched by Nigeria’s Central Bank, prohibits motorists from making cash payments at airport gates, requiring instead that they obtain preloaded Go-Cashless cards to enter the airport premises. The central bank said the policy is part of broader efforts to encourage digital financial transactions across the country and reduce reliance on cash.
For its part, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) stated that the cashless system is designed to improve vehicular processing speed, promote transparency, and enhance operational efficiency at the nation’s airports. FAAN advised motorists to obtain their Go-Cashless cards at the authority’s commercial offices, the airport access gates, or at partner banks prior to visiting the airports.
Despite repeated announcements, public notices, and media campaigns ahead of the implementation date, a large number of motorists arrived at both airports on Sunday to register at the gates. The sudden influx led to major vehicular congestion, with traffic backing up for several kilometres outside the airport premises.
FAAN acknowledged the disruption in a statement posted on its X social media account, saying: “We acknowledge the traffic build-up experienced at the access gates today. Despite the wide publicity, notices, and repeated announcements issued ahead of the commencement date, a significant number of motorists opted to register for their Go-Cashless cards at the gates this morning.”
To address the challenge, FAAN said it had deployed additional personnel, increased the number of registration points, and enhanced on-ground coordination to process motorists more efficiently. The authority also appealed to motorists to obtain their cards in advance to avoid future congestion.
Travelers and airport users reported long waits, with some describing the delays as frustrating, especially for those heading to early morning flights. “I had to wait over 45 minutes just to get registered and pass through the access gate,” said one Lagos-bound motorist. “It was chaos because many people did not bother to get their cards beforehand.”
The cashless initiative, which will be mandatory from the coming weeks, aligns with the federal government’s digitalisation agenda. Authorities believe that transitioning to a fully cashless system will not only enhance security but also reduce opportunities for bribery and other forms of corruption at entry points.
Observers note that while the traffic disruption on Sunday caused inconvenience, the experience may serve as a lesson for motorists to comply with pre-registration requirements. FAAN and the Central Bank have pledged to continue public awareness campaigns, while ensuring that additional infrastructure and staff are deployed at the airports to streamline the registration process in the coming weeks.
The initiative is expected to eventually cover all major airports in Nigeria, marking a significant step toward digitising financial and operational systems within the aviation sector. Officials insist that once fully implemented, the Go-Cashless system will significantly reduce delays and enhance the overall airport experience for motorists and passengers alike.