Traffic chaos persisted on Monday at the toll gates leading to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) following the full rollout of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s (FAAN) “Go Cashless” card system.
Motorists without the mandatory access cards were denied entry and directed to park and register at designated points near the gates, worsening congestion along Airport Road. Traffic reportedly built up from the 7 & 8 bus stops early in the morning, stretching toward the toll plaza.
Although Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had previously announced that cash payments would end on February 28, many drivers said they were unaware the new system had taken effect. FAAN had designated pick-up points for the cards ahead of the March 1 commencement date.
Several travellers missed or nearly missed flights due to the delays. One motorist said his passenger with a 2 p.m. domestic flight was forced to walk with luggage to find alternative transport after being stuck in traffic for hours while attempting to register for the card.
FAAN acknowledged the disruption and apologised, attributing the gridlock to last-minute registrations by motorists despite months of public notices. The authority said it has deployed additional personnel, expanded registration points, and improved coordination at the gates to ease traffic flow.
The agency urged airport users to remain patient as the transition to the cashless system continues at MMIA and other designated airports.
