Nigeria’s Airports Adopt Cashless System to Boost Efficiency and Combat Revenue Leakage
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has publicly explained its decision to implement a cashless payment system across all of the nation’s airports. The move is a strategic effort to eliminate persistent problems associated with cash transactions, primarily inefficiency, revenue leakages, and operational delays.
Speaking at the launch of the new FAAN Airport Contactless Card in Abuja, Ms. Adebola Agunbiade, Director of Commercial and Business Development, described the initiative as a major stride towards transforming Nigerian airports into modern, technology-driven, and globally competitive travel hubs.
“For many years, crucial airport revenue points—from access gates to car parks and lounge entries—have relied heavily on cash,” Agunbiade stated. “This outmoded system has not only slowed down our operations but also created significant vulnerabilities in how we collect and account for revenue.”
The primary goal of the switch is threefold: to improve efficiency, strengthen financial transparency, and enhance the overall convenience for passengers.
Introducing the Contactless Card
The new FAAN Airport Contactless Card is central to this “Go Cashless” vision. This prepaid card allows travellers to make quick and seamless payments for various airport facilities without needing physical currency.
Its benefits are immediate for passengers, including faster transactions, enhanced security, and real-time SMS notifications for every payment made. Crucially for FAAN and the government, the system promises optimised revenue collection and much greater accountability in managing public funds.
The rollout will be phased, initially targeting access gates and lounges before the system is expanded to all airports managed by FAAN nationwide. The project is being delivered in partnership with Paystack, a leading Nigerian financial technology firm, ensuring both data security and system reliability.
Ms. Agunbiade appealed to the public and the media to support the transition. She stressed that technology alone cannot drive change; public acceptance is essential for the card to truly represent “progress, transparency, and national pride.”
