The Federal Government is committed to transitioning to a cashless toll payment system at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, a move aimed at easing traffic congestion. The introduction of a hybrid payment system allows both electronic card payments and limited cash transactions, addressing previous gridlock issues.
Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State for Aviation, stated, “I have observed that the traffic is now flowing freely and this is because of the implementation of the hybrid system that we have decided to adopt.” This system is part of a broader directive that no agency should collect cash, with plans to fully migrate to cashless payments in the near future.
The earlier traffic gridlock experienced at the tollgate was largely caused by the unbundling process associated with the initial rollout of the cashless payment system. The hybrid arrangement is seen as a temporary solution to facilitate smoother operations while the transition is finalized.
In a related security development, four suspected bandits were arrested near Akure Airport following a coordinated operation involving aviation security personnel, the military, the police, and local security outfits. The arrests were made after a distress alert reported suspicious individuals near the airport perimeter.
“The arrest followed a distress alert that suspicious individuals were sighted behind the airport perimeter towards the Eleyeowo community,” an official noted. This incident underscores the ongoing efforts to enhance airport security across Nigeria.
FAAN has been actively working to upgrade security infrastructure at airports nationwide, commending the collaboration among various security agencies that led to the recent arrests. “FAAN commends the swift collaboration among aviation security personnel, the military, the police and local security groups, including Amotekun and community vigilantes, whose joint efforts led to the arrest,” the agency stated.
As the Federal Government moves forward with its cashless initiative, observers are keen to see how effectively the hybrid system will operate in the long term. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the timeline for the complete transition to a cashless system.