The policy change caused long queues, with vehicles moving at a snail’s pace, severely affecting access to both domestic and international terminals

Motorists and air passengers were stranded on Sunday as traffic around the tollgate leading to Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos ground to a halt following the enforcement of a new cashless payment system by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The policy change caused long queues, with vehicles moving at a snail’s pace, severely affecting access to both domestic and international terminals.

FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, confirmed the initiative, saying the cashless system was introduced to block revenue leakages and ensure transparency.

The congestion forced some travellers to abandon their cars and switch to motorcycles to avoid missing flights. Some commercial motorcyclists, taking advantage of the chaos, reportedly hiked fares by as much as 200 per cent.

Many motorists spent nearly 20 minutes at the tollgate for trips that usually take less than a minute. Some were seen arguing with toll officials over failed electronic transfers and delays in payment confirmation.

Affected motorist Adebayo Awojobi lamented being stuck in traffic for almost an hour and warned that the situation could worsen on weekdays, adding that officials appeared unprepared for the heavy flow of vehicles.

Agbebire, however, dismissed claims of poor public awareness, insisting the rollout aligns with the Federal Government’s drive towards a cashless economy. He said the system aims to curb extortion, improve revenue collection, and enhance transparency.

“The card itself is issued free of charge, but once loaded with N2,000 or N1,000, a maintenance fee of N500 is deducted,” Agbebire explained, assuring that sufficient access cards were available for motorists.

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