The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced that it will stop accepting cash at all its pay points nationwide beginning Sunday, March 1, 2026.
In a statement issued on Friday, FAAN said the decision is part of its “Operation Go Cashless” initiative aimed at making airport transactions faster, safer, and fully digital.
Under the new directive, passengers and airport visitors will be required to make digital payments at all FAAN-controlled airports. The policy covers access gates, car parks, and executive or VIP lounge services.
According to FAAN, the move aligns with the cashless policy drive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which encourages digital transactions across public institutions.
“In line with the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria, effective March 1st, 2026, cash will no longer be accepted at any FAAN pay point. At all our international and local airports—from access gates to car parks and executive lounge entries—every transaction must be digital,” the statement said.
Passengers are advised to obtain and use their access cards at entry gates and lounges to benefit from the “Tap and Go” system, designed to speed up payments and reduce queues. FAAN assured travellers that the system is secure and structured to improve convenience and service delivery.
The authority noted that inquiries can be directed to FAAN information desks at airports or through its official website.
FAAN had earlier commenced the pilot phase of contactless payments in September 2025 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
The two airports were selected due to their high traffic volumes, with over 300,000 vehicles passing through their access gates monthly. VIP lounges at both facilities also serve thousands of passengers annually.
The nationwide rollout, scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2026, is being implemented in partnership with Paystack, which is providing contactless payment terminals at gates, car parks, and lounges. Transactions are processed instantly through NFC-enabled cards.
FAAN said the digital system is expected to curb revenue leakages, enhance accountability, and significantly improve operational efficiency. During the pilot phase, the authority projected a 50 percent increase in revenue collection, rising to 75 percent as more pay points are integrated, with a long-term goal of tripling revenue within one year of full implementation.
By eliminating manual cash handling, FAAN believes the initiative will boost transparency and improve overall passenger experience at Nigeria’s airports.