The Federal Government has officially launched a Contactless Card System at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as part of efforts to modernize airport operations and fully transition to cashless transactions across Nigeria’s airports.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, said the new system is designed to eliminate cash collections at airports nationwide by the first quarter of 2026.
Mrs. Kuku, represented by FAAN’s Director of Commercial and Business Development, Mrs. Adebola Joy Agunbiade, stated that the Go Cashless Initiative is part of the Authority’s broader drive to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability in revenue collection.
According to her, the first phase of the contactless system was successfully deployed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, last week, with Abuja now taking the lead as the second pilot location.
“Our goal is to ensure that by the first quarter of next year, all airports under FAAN’s management will operate fully cashless. This innovation will not only modernize airport services but also strengthen our revenue system and improve the passenger experience,” she said.
The FAAN Managing Director further disclosed that the Authority anticipates a 50 percent revenue increase during the pilot phase, with projections to achieve 100 percent growth in the second phase as full implementation expands to other airports.
She called on all stakeholders in the aviation sector to collaborate and intensify awareness on the benefits of the cashless system, describing it as “a major leap toward operational excellence and digital transformation.”
In his remarks, the FAAN Regional Manager, Mr. Ridnap Nantim, commended the Federal Government and the Authority’s leadership for the forward-looking initiative, noting that the move would help decongest airport entry points and improve vehicular and passenger traffic management.
Other stakeholders present at the launch expressed their commitment to working with FAAN to ensure the seamless and nationwide implementation of the cashless payment system.
The Contactless Card System, part of the FAAN Go Cashless Project, enables travelers and service users to make payments electronically for airport services, parking, and other transactions, a step that aligns with the Federal Government’s Digital Economy Policy and drive toward greater financial transparency in public operations.