The cashless payment system would remain in place at all Nigerian airports, according to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
According to Naija News, Olubunmi Kuku, the authority’s managing director, told reporters at the airport on Thursday that the policy is still in effect because it was decided by the government.
According to her, attempts are already underway to address the problems that travelers encountered in the early phases of the implementation.
She stated that the Federal Executive Council and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development had conversations prior to the policy’s instruction.
She clarified that the council encouraged the agency to enhance the system’s implementation so that airport patrons may have a more seamless experience rather than canceling it.
There had been earlier rumors that the policy was discontinued due to issues at the airport gates, particularly at the entry to the aerodrome, where a lot of travelers had trouble using the new system.
But according to Kuku, the council did not completely halt the process; rather, it just instructed the agency to modify it prior to full execution.
The authorities clarified that the transition to electronic payments was gradual.
The policy’s preparations started months ago with awareness campaigns to educate travelers about the switch from cash to digital payments at airports.
Last year, she continued, there were public education efforts that included messages distributed via the National Orientation Agency and other communication channels.
The head of FAAN clarified that the policy was implemented following a direction that was authorized by the Federal Executive Council of the Federal Government.
She claimed that although the agency had previously recommended deploying the technology gradually, a timeframe to start implementation was later provided.
Additionally, FAAN stated that it first suggested a transition plan that would enable simultaneous use of cash and electronic payments as travelers got used to the new system.
The agency reiterated its support for the strategy while also praising President Bola Tinubu’s method of examining the introduction of government programs.
The authority claims that the choice to permit enhancements prior to a comprehensive launch demonstrates an attempt to guarantee the system functions correctly for airport patrons.
The organization insisted that while maintaining the cashless policy at Nigerian airports, it will keep working to enhance the payment procedure.
