The Federal Government has approved the introduction of a hybrid payment system at airport access gates nationwide, allowing motorists to pay with either cash or electronic channels in a bid to ease traffic congestion.

The directive followed a meeting between the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), alongside senior ministry officials, to review challenges encountered during the earlier implementation of a fully cashless gate payment system.

The move comes after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the suspension of the full cashless system following complaints that it caused traffic gridlock at several airport entrances.

In a statement issued in Abuja by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the government said the hybrid arrangement would serve as an interim measure while efforts continue to improve the electronic payment system.

According to the statement, the hybrid payment system will take effect at all airport access gates from March 13, 2026.

Motorists will be able to pay using cash, FAAN Go Cashless Cards, Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals, and other approved digital payment platforms.

The ministry added that road users who already possess the FAAN Go Cashless Card can continue using it until further notice.

It also encouraged members of the public to obtain the card as FAAN works to enhance and optimise the cashless payment infrastructure.

Officials said the directive effectively restores the previous payment arrangement at airport gates while the ministry gradually transitions to a fully automated electronic payment system in the future.