Tinubu Asked us to Improve the Process, Not Suspend Cashless Payment Initiative – FAAN MD

The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, held a press conference to address the ongoing Chaotic situation that erupted around toll gates leading to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and vehicular traffic gridlock worsened since the introduction of the cashless system

During the press conference on Thursday, 5th of March, the FAAN boss clarified that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, did not ask FAAN to necessarily suspend ‘Go Cashless’ initiative, but to make sure the process itself is improved before it gets rolled out.

This statement was released barely 24 hours after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Festus Keyamo, in a briefing with State House Correspondents, said President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate suspension of the FAAN cashless policy.

Kuku who spoke at conference at Lagos airport, said she considered the development as a major win for FAAN and the Ministry of Aviation, adding that the cashless policy started last year with a lot of enlightenment.

“We started a lot of enlightenment, even the National Orientation Agency had publicised it as far back as October, last year. We were asked to implement a federal government directive which was done at the Federal Executive Council. This was what we were pushing towards, but unfortunately we were given a deadline.

“We had actually asked for a hybrid approach that allows us to do both cashless as well as automated. So for me and the agency, we actually thank Mr. President for this laudable initiative. The fact is that the President is not just talking of federal government initiatives or policy rollouts but understanding the nature of every environment,” the MD said.

Kuku said the president saw the traffic gridlock as a result of the cashless policy and asked them to revert back to status quo or the hybrid approach.

“That’s what we’re doing. So this is a win for the industry,” she said.

She highlighted that the president has given FAAN some time to go back and refine the process and ensure there are more users.

She added that despite all of the enlightenments by FAAN, a lot of passengers and commuters did not realize that FAAN would stick to the March 1st deadline.