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Motorists faced heavy traffic at Nigeria’s two busiest airports, Abuja and Lagos, on Sunday following the commencement of a cashless access system.
The congestion occurred at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja as drivers turned out to register for the newly introduced Go-Cashless cards.
The measure, championed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), bars motorists from making cash payments at airport gates. Authorities say the policy is intended to promote digital financial transactions.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said the cashless system is expected to improve vehicular processing speed, enhance transparency, and boost operational efficiency at airport access points.
However, large numbers of motorists reportedly chose to register for the access cards at the gates on the first day of implementation, leading to long queues and temporary gridlock.
FAAN, in a statement, acknowledged the traffic build-up, noting that prior notices and announcements had been issued ahead of the rollout.
“We acknowledge the traffic build-up experienced at the access gates today,” FAAN said.
“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.
“This understandably created pressure on the toll lanes and resulted in temporary gridlock.”
FAAN said, ‘While some initial adjustment challenges were anticipated, as with any major system transition, the Authority had provided ample notice to encourage early registration and avoid congestion on day one. That said, FAAN remains deeply empathetic to the inconvenience experienced.”
It added that it had deployed additional personnel, increased registration points to fast-track first-time card issuance and enhanced on-ground coordination to improve traffic flow.
The authority appealed for patience and urged motorists yet to obtain the cards to take advantage of expanded registration support to avoid future delays.
“We appeal for your patience, understanding, and cooperation as we work diligently to stabilise and streamline the process. This transition is designed to deliver long-term benefits — faster processing, improved transparency, reduced cash handling risks, and a more efficient airport environment for all.
“We therefore urge all motorists who are yet to obtain their Go Cashless cards to take advantage of the expanded registration support being provided and to plan ahead for subsequent visits.”
