Minister Inspects Abuja Airport Access Gates As Hybrid Payment System Begins

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), today, March 13, 2026, visited the access gates at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to assess the operational performance of the newly introduced hybrid payment system for vehicles entering the airport.
The visit followed the Ministry’s directive restoring the hybrid payment arrangement, allowing both cash and electronic payments, after the earlier suspension of the fully cashless access gate system as directed by Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
During the inspection, the Minister observed traffic flow at the gates and interacted with officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) overseeing the implementation of the new arrangement. He expressed satisfaction with the smoother vehicular movement recorded since the introduction of the hybrid payment option.
The Minister commended the Managing Director/CEO of FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, and the FAAN team for the swift operational adjustments made to ease congestion and improve access into the airport.
He noted that the hybrid payment system serves as an interim measure while the Ministry continues engagements with concessionaires to deploy a fully automated and electronic access gate system across Nigeria’s airports. The Minister also highlighted ongoing considerations for operational improvements, including the introduction of dedicated lanes for cash payments to further minimize traffic build-up at the gates.
The inspection underscores the federal government’s commitment to ensuring efficient airport access, reducing traffic congestion, and enhancing the travel experience for airport users.c congestion, and enhancing the travel experience for airport users.