THE Federal Government has suspended the recently introduced cashless toll collection system at Nigeria’s airports gates, following widespread frustration and gridlock that caused many travellers to miss their flights.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), who announced the decision on Wednesday, March 4, while briefing journalists shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the suspension followed concerns expressed by President Bola Tinubu over the hardship faced by Nigerians since the system was introduced about a week ago.
Keyamo regretted that the policy, designed to eliminate cash handling at toll points and curb revenue leakages, had instead created severe traffic bottlenecks at airport access gates, particularly in Abuja and Lagos, adding: “The President was very concerned about the welfare of Nigerians and the fact that many people were missing their flights due to the gridlock created by the new system.”
The minister said the President directed the immediate suspension of the system and ordered aviation authorities to revert temporarily to the previous payment arrangement, while a more efficient electronic system is developed.
“As directed by Mr. President, we are suspending the present process and returning to the status quo to ease the suffering Nigerians are currently experiencing,” Keyamo stated, adding that travellers who had already purchased electronic toll cards would still be able to use them under a temporary hybrid arrangement that allows both card and cash payments.
He said government would review and perfect the electronic toll collection framework to ensure it achieves its objective of transparency without creating operational challenges for motorists, adding: “This will not take too long. The President has asked that we return to the drawing board, refine the system and report back to him.”
He disclosed Federal Government’s plans to engage private sector partners to help develop and operate a more efficient electronic tolling system, as the President indicated that the government may even pay commissions to private operators if necessary to ensure seamless revenue collection and eliminate corruption associated with cash handling.
The minister stated that while the administration remains committed to modernising toll collection across airport facilities, the immediate priority is to relieve the traffic congestion that has disrupted travel plans for many Nigerians.
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