The Director of Commercial and Business Development, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN),Ms Adebola. Agunbiade, has stated that the agency’s Cashless Policy is built on four critical pillars.
Agunbiade stated this during the official launch of the FAAN’s Cashless Policy at the Access Gate of the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos .
Reading her speech, Agunbiade listed the four pillars to include:
1, To significantly enhance operational efficiency.
2. To reduce congestion and delays for a smoother passenger experience.
3. To improve revenue collection and accountability.
4. To firmly align FAAN with global best practices for seamless airport access and service delivery.
This ambitious project, which FAAN has aptly named, “Operation Go-Cashless,” she said is being implemented in a strategic partnership with Paystack, a leader in digital payments.
This initiative, Agunbiade said marks a decisive step forward in our journey to modernise Nigeria’s airports.
She also disclosed that FAAN will immediately, introduce state-of-the-art cashless payment systems at its revenue points, beginning with pilot operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
She explained that the vision to embed efficiency and innovation into the agency’s core operations has been her personal commitment since assuming this role.
She pointed out that over the past 10 months, her team has worked tirelessly, engaging extensively with stakeholders, to transform this vision into the reality that is being celebrate.
What this mean in practical terms, Agunbiade said is that, “We are phasing out cash transactions at all participating FAAN revenue points. Our technology partner, Paystack, has deployed contactless payment terminals at our access gates, car parks and VIP lounges. This means that each motorist and customer will use their own contactless card for payment. Human involvement in cash collection will be eliminated, thereby removing opportunities for revenue leakage and ensuring that every Naira is accounted for.”
She informed that the technological backbone of this system is robust and that the agency’s technology partner; Paystack has designed a closed-loop system where NFC card readers are seamlessly connected to their payment infrastructure.
Each tap, she explained is instantly validated and authorised, ensuring reliability even in our high-traffic airport environments, adding that this system is optimised for speed, accuracy, and utmost convenience.
On the benefits of the Cashless Policy to FAAN, Agunbiade said that they are transformative.
“For FAAN, we project a 50% increase in revenue collection at this pilot stage, rising to 75% as we integrate more points, with the goal of tripling revenue within the first year of full implementation. These additional funds will be strategically reinvested into further infrastructural development across our airports,” she said.
Speaking on the benefits for for airport users, she said, “You will enjoy greater convenience, faster transactions, and reduced risk of theft. This policy also promotes financial inclusion, extending services to those with limited access to traditional banking.”
“For businesses, we have ensured that transaction costs are kept low to protect the profit margins of our business partners, and reliable internet services will be available to support seamless operations.
She noted that an initiative of this magnitude does not succeed without a comprehensive awareness campaign, stressing that already FAAN has started engaging stakeholders through forums, such as the one held at the Sheraton Hotel, and will intensify efforts with billboards, social media assets, radio jingles, and posters at access gates to drive the adoption of the policy.
The Director of Commercial and Business Development informed that FAAN dedicated staff at the access gates have been trained to ensure a smooth transition, and that the agency have established swift communication channels to resolve any technical or user errors promptly.
“Our roadmap is clear: full implementation across all FAAN-operated airports is targeted for the first quarter of 2026,” Agunbiade said.
She hinted that following the success at the access gates, FAAN intend to expand this cashless policy to other areas, including casual flights, VIP lounges, car parks, and car hire operations.
She disclosed that every month, FAAN access gates in Lagos and Abuja recorded over three hundred thousand vehicular entrances respectively and that the agency’s VIP and Protocol lounges serve thousands yearly and that the agency believe it improve the quality of service to its customers and receive payments conveniently and transparently.
This achievement, she noted would not have been possible without the visionary leadership, guidance, and unwavering support of our Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, the
entire FAAN team and partners at Paystack, thanking them for their dedication
She called on stakeholders, partners, and every airport user to join hands with FAAN as it embark on this transformative journey.
According to her, “Your cooperation is essential for the sustainable success of this laudable initiative.
“Together, we will set a new benchmark for efficiency, accountability, and world-class service delivery Nigeria’s airports,” she added.
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