Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, , has announced plans to end the long-standing practice of influential individuals bypassing payment at airport access gates, warning that the culture is costing the aviation sector significant revenue.

The minister made the statement during an inspection of access gates at the in , where he reviewed the performance of the newly introduced hybrid payment system.

Keyamo said a substantial portion of funds meant for airport operations is lost because many politically connected individuals and government officials routinely pass through airport gates without paying the required access fees.

He described the situation as part of a wider culture in the capital where many individuals claim official status and expect special privileges.

According to the minister, several categories of public officials and politically connected individuals often insist on passing through airport gates free of charge.

He stressed that the practice must end, noting that the government cannot continue to allow such revenue leakages in a critical sector like aviation.

Push for transparency in aviation revenue

Keyamo explained that the reform is part of broader efforts by the administration of to improve transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

He said the federal government has directed the aviation ministry to ensure the sector gradually transitions to a fully cashless payment system for airport access and other services.

The minister admitted that he initially allowed the (FAAN) to handle the implementation of the policy but decided to personally inspect the process after noticing operational challenges.

Hybrid payment system introduced temporarily

Airports across Nigeria are currently operating a hybrid payment system that allows both cash and electronic payments. The arrangement was introduced after the earlier attempt to implement a fully cashless system created traffic congestion at airport gates.

Earlier in March, President Tinubu directed FAAN to suspend the immediate enforcement of the cashless policy after complaints about gridlock at several airports.

Following the directive, Keyamo instructed FAAN to temporarily allow cash payments while maintaining the hybrid system to accommodate travellers who already possess FAAN access cards.

Despite the temporary adjustment, the minister maintained that the long-term objective is to eliminate cash payments entirely.

According to him, continued cash transactions at airport gates create opportunities for corruption and revenue leakages.

Keyamo noted that FAAN has been collecting cash at airport access points for decades, a system he said must be reformed to ensure transparency and better revenue generation for airport infrastructure and services.

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