Gridlock disrupted access to Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos on Sunday, 1st March, 2026 due to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)’s rollout of a mandatory cashless payment system that commenced at the tollgate.
FAAN implemented the cashless policy to eliminate revenue leakages, prevent extortion, and boost income at key airport access points like the MMA tollgate, which links domestic and international terminals. The system requires free prepaid cards loaded with amounts such as N1,000 or N2,000, though N500 is deducted for maintenance. FAAN aligned this with Nigeria’s national cashless economy push. FAAN appealed for patience as the “Operation Go Cashless” stabilizes nationwide.
Hundreds of motorists and passengers faced severe delays, with some stuck for over 20 minutes on short routes or abandoning cars for overpriced motorcycle rides to catch flights. Failed transfers and slow confirmations sparked arguments with toll officials, as many drivers arrived unprepared. Affected users criticized FAAN for inadequate publicity and poor readiness.
However, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs, Henry Agbebire, has rejected publicity shortfall claims, highlighting that months of prior sensitization had been already taken place. He further blamed last-minute registrations for the jam affirming that ample free cards were available and urged early compliance at FAAN offices or faan.gov.ng.
