President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the suspension of the newly introduced cashless payment system at Nigerian airports following widespread traffic congestion that caused many travellers to miss their flights.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the directive after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council in Abuja.

Keyamo said the electronic payment system introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria at airport toll gates was meant to curb corruption and improve revenue collection by replacing cash payments. However, it quickly led to severe gridlock around airport access roads in Lagos and Abuja.

According to the minister, the President directed that the system be suspended immediately to ease the hardship faced by travellers.

He said the government would temporarily revert to a hybrid arrangement allowing both cash payments and the use of prepaid FAAN cards while a more efficient electronic payment platform is developed with private sector partners.

Meanwhile, the Council also approved the re-scoping and continuation of the long-delayed second runway project at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, aimed at improving aviation infrastructure and airport capacity.