Tinubu suspends airport cashless payment system

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday ordered the immediate suspension of the newly introduced cashless payment system at airports nationwide, following widespread complaints of congestion and passenger hardship

The directive came after reports that the policy, implemented barely a week ago, had led to significant gridlock at airport gates, causing many travellers to miss their flights.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed the development while briefing journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and presided over by the President.

According to the minister, President Tinubu instructed the ministry to revert to the previous arrangement temporarily and redesign a more efficient system.

“He directed me to go back to the drawing board. We should revert to the status quo, suspend the present system whereby people have to pay through the various means we introduced at the gates across the country, and then perfect the system properly.

“In fact, the President directed me that this should not take too long and that I should get back to him on this issue.

“We should go back and, if possible, even engage the private sector to ensure that we establish an electronic system by which we can collect this money at the gates to the extent that it will not create the gridlock we are having right now.

“So I am hereby directing all concern agencies, also based on the directive of the President, to suspend the present process. We should go back to the drawing board.”

The suspension takes immediate effect.