FAAN Sets February 28 for Full Cashless Airport Payments

The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku, has reaffirmed the agency’s unwavering commitment to implementing a fully cashless payment system across all airport transaction points nationwide, with effect from February 28, 2026.
The renewed assurance came during a high-level engagement with executives and members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), who visited FAAN to seek clarity on the discontinuation of physical cash transactions within airport environments. The meeting provided a platform for open dialogue and underscored FAAN’s commitment to transparency, consultation, and inclusive reform.
Speaking during the session, Kuku stressed that the migration to a cashless framework aligns with global aviation management standards and supports Federal Government reforms designed to strengthen accountability, improve operational efficiency, and eliminate revenue leakages across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
She cited a Treasury Circular dated November 24, 2025, issued by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and signed by Accountant-General Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, which directed the cessation of cash transactions in all government financial dealings. The directive followed approval by the Federal Executive Council mandating MDAs to discontinue physical cash collections and payments as part of broader public finance reforms.
“There is no going back on this decision,” the FAAN chief declared, noting that the initiative not only aligns the Authority with national fiscal reforms but also positions Nigeria’s airports for stronger revenue assurance, improved service delivery, and enhanced institutional integrity.
Beyond regulatory compliance, Kuku explained that the reform forms part of FAAN’s wider strategic agenda to deepen stakeholder engagement, strengthen trust among unions and concessionaires, and ensure that operational changes are implemented collaboratively across the aviation ecosystem.
Highlighting the operational gains of a cashless environment, she pointed to improved transaction traceability, faster passenger service, reduced financial leakages, and stronger public confidence in airport administration.
Addressing concerns surrounding the use of Paystack as a payment gateway, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, clarified that the platform only facilitates transaction processing. He assured stakeholders that no government revenue is warehoused in Paystack accounts, explaining that all payments made through Point-of-Sale terminals are transmitted directly into designated Federal Government treasury accounts.
Following detailed briefings on implementation processes and transition safeguards ahead of the February deadline, NUATE representatives expressed satisfaction with FAAN’s explanations, acknowledging the framework as practical and workable.
The planned rollout marks a significant milestone in FAAN’s institutional reform programme, reinforcing its resolve to modernise airport operations, entrench accountability, and sustain constructive engagement with stakeholders across Nigeria’s aviation value chain.