President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate suspension of the controversial cashless policy introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. This directive comes barely four days after its rollout on March 1, which triggered massive gridlock and widespread complaints at major airports across the nation.

The policy mandated digital payments via 'Go Cashless' cards or POS systems for airport access gates, parking, and lounges. It was initially implemented by FAAN with the aim of eliminating corruption and optimizing revenue collection, replacing a decades-old practice of cash payments.

However, its rapid implementation led to severe traffic jams, long queues, stranded motorists, and numerous missed flights. The disruptions caused significant hardship for air travellers across the country.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the President's directive following a Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Tinubu. Keyamo stated that the President was deeply concerned about the welfare of Nigerians and the disruptions caused.

President Tinubu specifically instructed the ministry and FAAN to "go back to the drawing board" and develop a more people-friendly alternative. This alternative must balance the goals of revenue transparency with passenger convenience, ensuring the new system does not create operational bottlenecks.

Keyamo emphasized that the President's decision was an act of empathy, not a rejection of cashless systems. It was rather a direct response to the suffering caused by the current implementation.

As a temporary measure, the government has directed a revert to the previous payment arrangement, introducing a hybrid system allowing motorists to pay using both cash and pre-purchased FAAN cards. This aims to ease the immediate difficulties faced by travellers while a more robust electronic platform is designed.

The Federal Government remains committed to a fully electronic revenue collection system, with plans to involve private sector partners in devising a more efficient payment platform. This new system is expected to eliminate cash transactions without causing delays.

The President has directed that the review process be completed quickly to restore efficiency at airport entry points. The Minister stressed that the suspension is not a permanent return to cash transactions but a temporary measure to alleviate current challenges.

Prior to the suspension, Minister Keyamo had acknowledged the initial congestion and appealed for patience. He had stated his intention to review the first week of the cashless policy to assess its performance, address teething challenges, and improve overall efficiency.