FAAN Cashless Toll Leaves Motorists, Passengers Stranded at Lagos Airport
Traffic around the tollgate leading to Murtala Muhammed Airport was heavily disrupted on Sunday after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) began enforcing a new cashless payment system for vehicles entering the airport.
The move sparked long queues, leaving hundreds of motorists and air passengers stranded, with traffic to and from both domestic and international terminals severely affected.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, confirmed the policy, saying the cashless system was introduced to prevent revenue leakages within the airport.
The congestion forced some travellers to abandon their cars and turn to motorcycles to catch flights.
Commercial motorcyclists, ignoring existing restrictions, reportedly increased fares by up to 200 per cent.
Motorists spent up to 20 minutes at the tollgate for trips that usually take less than a minute, while some engaged toll officials in heated arguments over failed electronic transfers and delays in payment confirmation.
Many drivers blamed FAAN for the confusion, arguing that the public was not adequately informed before the rollout.
Affected motorist Adebayo Awojobi said he had been stuck for nearly an hour and warned that the situation could worsen on weekdays, adding that officials seemed unprepared for the heavy traffic.
Agbebire, however, rejected claims of poor public awareness, stating that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s push towards a cashless economy.
He said the system aims to curb extortion, enhance transparency, and boost FAAN’s revenue.
He noted that some of the chaos stemmed from users delaying compliance. “The card itself is issued free of charge, but once it is 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.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
