Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the removal of Very Important Person (VIP) privileges at airport access gates as part of efforts to enforce the reinstated cashless and hybrid payment policy at airports.
Keyamo gave the directive on Friday during an on-the-spot assessment of the implementation of the system at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The minister stated that the government would not relent in enforcing the cashless payment policy introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), stressing that the era of exemptions for VIPs at airport gates must end.
“We must not do VIP here again because half of our revenue goes to VIP. Everybody is a big man in Abuja; that’s the problem. There’s hardly anybody you see in Abuja who doesn’t have FG printed on their business card,” he said.
Keyamo reiterated that the government was committed to fully implementing the cashless system across airports in the country.
“There is no going back on the cashless system. We are going to go cashless,” he said, adding that Bola Ahmed Tinubuhad given him a deadline to ensure the policy is fully implemented.
The minister warned that he would hold relevant officials accountable if the directive is not properly executed.
“As the minister, I take full responsibility and I have to take full control. I will not leave my fate in the hands of any other person,” he added.
The Federal Government had earlier announced plans to introduce a cashless payment system at Nigerian airports beginning March 1, 2026. However, the policy was temporarily suspended on the orders of President Tinubu after its initial rollout led to gridlock at several airport entry points.