By Raliat Adenekan
President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate suspension of the newly introduced cashless payment system at airport toll gates nationwide following reports of massive traffic gridlock and missed flights.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who announced the directive today, Wednesday at the State House, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, explained that the President’s decision was rooted in empathy for Nigerians who have suffered severe delays since the system’s implementation less than a week ago.
Under the new order, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will return to the “status quo,” allowing a hybrid of cash and electronic payments while the government “goes back to the drawing board” to perfect a more efficient electronic collection model.
The Minister revealed that the President was deeply concerned about the “good luck” (bottlenecks) created by the digital transition, which saw commuters stranded for hours at Lagos and Abuja airport access gates.
“Mr. President directed that this should not take too long,” Keyamo stated, noting that the ministry is already looking to engage private sector partners to develop a seamless, commission-based electronic system that eliminates physical cash without causing congestion.
For the interim, FAAN has been instructed to manage a hybrid system to accommodate those who have already purchased FAAN payment cards while ensuring traffic flows freely.
In a second major development, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has officially approved the re-scoping and augmentation of the long-delayed second runway project for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Minister Keyamo explained that the project, originally awarded by the previous administration, faced significant hurdles including foreign exchange volatility and the need for community compensation. To address these, the project was completely re-scoped to include additional taxiways, apron works, and an extension of the runway length that were missing from the original inherited design.
The approved overhaul is divided into four critical components: the primary construction of the runway and perimeter fencing; the procurement of airfield lighting and navigational aids; the provision of a dedicated power station and switch rooms; and the supply of specialized crash road service vehicles and spare parts.
Keyamo noted that the augmentation became necessary after a thorough review by ministry consultants identified gaps in the initial plan, which had stalled due to pricing disputes and environmental encumbrances.
With these approvals, the Federal Government aims to fast-track the delivery of the second runway to prevent total shutdowns of the capital’s airspace during maintenance of the existing single runway.
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