Manny Ita –
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced the final transition to a fully cashless revenue collection system, effective March 1, 2026. Under this new mandate, all physical cash transactions at airport revenue points—including access gates, car parks, and VIP lounges—will be prohibited. The move follows a series of directives from the Federal Government and the Federal Executive Council aimed at institutionalizing electronic revenue collection and eliminating leakages across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Managing Director and Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, confirmed the strict enforcement of the policy, noting that the agency is committed to modernizing the passenger experience while ensuring absolute transparency in its financial operations. “The transition to a cashless system is not only in line with global best practices in aviation management but also consistent with Federal Government directives aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency,” Mrs. Kuku stated. She further emphasized the finality of the move, declaring, “There is no going back on this decision.”
To facilitate the transition, FAAN has launched “Operation Go Cashless,” a digital payment framework developed in partnership with Paystack. This system introduces the “Go Cashless Card,” a dedicated contactless payment solution that allows airport users to pay for services with a simple tap. Beyond immediate convenience, the authority expects the shift to significantly impact its bottom line. “The plan for this project is that within this first pilot phase, we expect to increase our revenue by 50%, and by the time we go cashless fully, we expect to be doing 75–100% growth,” FAAN’s commercial directorate noted during a recent briefing.
Travelers and airport stakeholders are required to register for the digital system via the official portal at http://www.gocashless.faan.gov.ng/. Once registered, users can collect their physical Go Cashless cards at designated FAAN airport points. To ensure a seamless rollout, trained brand ambassadors have been stationed at major terminals in Lagos and Abuja to provide on-site demonstrations and assist with card activation.
The enforcement phase includes strict warnings for personnel, as any acceptance of physical cash—whether in Naira or foreign currency—after the deadline will attract severe sanctions. Mrs. Kuku highlighted that the system offers users the ability to monitor balances via a secure online dashboard and provides instant SMS notifications for every transaction. “By reducing reliance on cash, FAAN aims to enhance efficiency, improve revenue assurance, and deliver a better customer experience at our airports,” the authority concluded.
