![Hon. Festus Keyamo SAN arrives MMIA past 11:50 p.m. Feb 23 to lead oversight of Terminal 1 fire. Joined FAAN MD & team actively managing situation. Directed morning inspection Tuesday to guide restoration & confirm safety standards. Reaffirmed focus on passenger safety. Story: [link] #KeyamoMMIA #FireIncident #FAAN](https://fullcliphq.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mym-150x150.jpg "MMIA Fire: Keyamo Inspects Lagos Airport After Terminal 1 Blaze Disrupts Flights")
Officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) withdrew from the access tollgate at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos yesterday, within hours of President Bola Tinubu’s directive suspending the cashless payment policy.
Eyewitnesses report no FAAN personnel on duty at the gate, with barricades left open, allowing vehicles to pass freely without payment or checks.
A motorist who drove through the tollgate approximately 20 minutes after the suspension was announced described the scene as surprising. “I’m shocked I passed through the tollgate about 20 minutes ago and no single official of FAAN was on ground. I guess they are restrategising,” the driver told Daily Trust.
The sudden absence of staff created a free flow of traffic at the usually congested toll point, in stark contrast to the long queues and gridlock that had plagued the facility since the cashless system took effect on March 1, 2026. Motorists and airport users had faced significant delays, with many reporting missed flights due to backups extending onto approach roads.
Presidential Directive and Empathy
President Tinubu ordered the immediate suspension during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on March 4, 2026. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, briefing State House correspondents, said the President acted out of empathy for Nigerians suffering under the policy.
“Mr. President was very concerned about the welfare of Nigerians and the fact that most Nigerians were missing their flights,” Keyamo stated. “So Mr President, out of empathy, directed today that we should suspend the present system because it creates a lot of gridlock and Nigerians are suffering as a result of it.”
Tinubu instructed the ministry and FAAN to revert temporarily to the previous cash-and-card payment arrangement while officials refine the digital system for a more efficient future rollout. No specific timeline for reintroduction has been provided.
Background of the “Go Cashless” Policy
The cashless policy, branded “Go Cashless,” required prepaid cards or digital payments at access gates, parking areas, and other revenue points. FAAN promoted it as faster, safer, and more transparent, with prior publicity urging early registration. However, enforcement on day one overwhelmed toll lanes as many motorists attempted on-site card acquisition, leading to widespread frustration.
FAAN has not issued an official statement clarifying operational changes at MMIA or other federal airports following the suspension. The decision applies nationwide, though the Lagos tollgate’s immediate abandonment drew particular attention due to its high traffic volume.
The suspension reflects the administration’s responsiveness to public hardship as it tries to modernize airport revenue collection and align with the federal government’s cashless economy push. Authorities are expected to review technical and logistical issues before any revised implementation.
