The country’s airports will continue to accept cashless payments, according to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
Olubunmi Kuku, the authority’s managing director, reportedly told reporters at the airport on Thursday that the policy is still in effect as a result of a government decision.
According to her, attempts are already underway to address the problems that travelers encountered in the initial phases of the implementation.
She said that the Federal Executive Council and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development had conversations before the policy was instructed.
She clarified that the council requested the agency to enhance the system’s implementation in order to provide airport patrons with a more seamless experience, rather than canceling it.
There had previously been claims that the policy was discontinued due to issues at the airport gates, particularly at the entry to the aerodrome, where a large number of travelers had trouble utilizing the new method.
However, Kuku stated that the council did not completely halt the process; rather, it merely instructed the agency to modify it prior to full execution.
The authorities clarified that the shift to electronic payments did not occur overnight.
The policy’s preparations started months ago with awareness campaigns to educate travelers about the shift from cash to digital payments.
Last year, she continued, there were public awareness 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 and the Federal Government.
She claimed that although the agency had previously recommended implementing the technology gradually, a schedule to start implementation was later provided.
Additionally, FAAN stated that it first suggested a transition plan that would permit simultaneous use of cash and electronic payments until travelers got used to the new system.
The agency reiterated its support for the policy while praising President Bola Tinubu’s method of examining the introduction of governmental programs.
The authority claims that the choice to permit enhancements prior to a comprehensive launch demonstrates an attempt to guarantee that 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.
