The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has introduced a contactless payment system at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The pilot project, named “Operation Go Cashless,” was launched on Monday in Lagos.
Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director of FAAN, said the initiative would triple the authority’s revenue and strengthen its non-aeronautical revenue assurance capabilities. She was represented at the event by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr Henry Agbebire.
According to Kuku, the system will ensure that every naira due to FAAN is collected and accounted for. She described it as both a financial improvement and a commitment to national development and fiscal responsibility.
“By significantly reducing reliance on physical cash, FAAN is building a system that is inherently more transparent, where every transaction would be electronically traceable and secure,” she said.
Kuku explained that adopting digital trends would keep Nigerian airports competitive and aligned with global standards. “We are sending a clear message to the world that Nigeria is open for business, with infrastructure that meets international standards,” she added.
To support the rollout, FAAN deployed trained brand ambassadors across access gates and terminal areas. Kuku said these ambassadors would guide passengers, assist with onboarding, provide live demonstrations, and answer questions.
She also introduced the FAAN Go Cashless card, available at all airport access gates in Lagos and Abuja. She encouraged passengers and airport users to collect, activate and fund the card immediately.
“This launch is a critical milestone but it is not the final destination as FAAN remains steadfast in its commitment to continuous improvement,” she stated.
The FAAN boss confirmed that the new cashless policy would be expanded nationwide in phases after Lagos and Abuja. From Monday, September 29, cash collection at FAAN revenue points including access gates, car parks, and VIP lounges will begin to phase out.
The initiative, developed in partnership with Paystack, was supported by President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN.
Ms Joy Agunbiade, Director of Commercial and Business Development at FAAN, said the system is expected to boost revenue collection by 50 per cent during the pilot stage. “From this pilot stage alone, we expect to increase to 75 per cent as we integrate more points with the goal of tripling our revenue within the first year of full implementation,” she said.
Agunbiade explained that additional revenue would be reinvested in airport infrastructure nationwide. She also noted that physical cash collection would be phased out completely by the first quarter of 2026.
Mr Fisayo Kolawole, Director, Commercial, Paystack, said the firm worked with FAAN for 10 months to design a smart and safe cashless system for Nigerian airports. He described the project as the biggest contactless payment use case in Nigeria and a model for aviation across Africa.
According to him, the FAAN cashless initiative will modernise airport operations and set a new standard for millions of passengers. At the launch, a demonstration of the onboarding process, including how to fund and use the FAAN card, was carried out.