The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has projected a dramatic rise in its revenue base as it officially launched a nationwide cashless payment system across its airports, tagged “Operation Go-Cashless.”
The policy, which was launched on September 29, 2025, in Abuja, is expected to deliver a 50 percent increase in revenue at the pilot stage, rising to 75 percent as more payment points are integrated, with the ultimate goal of tripling overall earnings within the first year of full implementation.
The initiative was unveiled by the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, ably represented by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Henry Agbebire.
Mrs. Kuku described the rollout as a landmark step in transforming Nigeria’s aviation sector and a demonstration of FAAN’s commitment to accountability, efficiency, and global best practices.
“This is not just a new payment system; it is a fundamental reshaping of the airport experience. By significantly reducing our reliance on physical cash, we are building a system that is transparent and traceable. Every Naira due to the Authority will be collected and accounted for,” she said.
According to her, the transition will deliver faster, seamless, and more secure transactions at all airports, eliminating delays, leakages, and inconveniences associated with cash handling.
She further congratulated FAAN’s Director of Commercial and Business Development, Ms. Adebola Agunbiade, and her team for driving the project and challenged them to keep their promise of tripling revenue in the coming months.
Speaking at the launch, Ms. Agunbiade explained that the cashless project was designed to enhance operational efficiency, cut down congestion and delays, improve accountability in revenue collection, and firmly align FAAN with global best practices. She said the vision, which had been her personal commitment since assuming office, had now been transformed into reality through months of intensive stakeholder engagement and planning.
She disclosed that Paystack has deployed contactless payment terminals with NFC card readers directly linked to their payment infrastructure. Each payment is instantly validated and authorized, creating a reliable, transparent, and convenient system.
“With this system, human involvement in cash collection is eliminated, which means every Naira will be captured and leakages blocked. Our projections show a 50 percent rise in revenues during the pilot stage, 75 percent as we scale, and a tripling of overall revenue in the first year of full rollout,” she stated.
Agunbiade added that the new funds would be strategically reinvested into airport infrastructure upgrades across the country.
She further revealed that FAAN’s access gates at the Lagos and Abuja airports record over 300,000 vehicular entrances monthly, while it’s VIP and Protocol lounges serve thousands of passengers yearly. With the introduction of contactless payments, service quality, accountability, and user satisfaction are expected to improve dramatically.
To ease adoption, FAAN has introduced the FAAN Go-Cashless Card, available for collection at access gates in Lagos and Abuja. Users are encouraged to activate and fund the card for immediate use.
The Authority has also deployed trained brand ambassadors at gates and terminals to guide passengers, provide live demonstrations, and answer queries during the transition period. In addition, FAAN has launched an awareness campaign, using billboards, social media, radio jingles, and posters to educate the public about the new payment system.
Mrs. Kuku emphasized that while this rollout is a critical milestone, it is not the final destination. FAAN plans to expand the cashless system to all 22 FAAN-operated airports nationwide by the first quarter of 2026. Following the success at access gates, the policy will also cover car hire services, casual flights, and additional airport services.
She expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his interest in the aviation sector and to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, for his unwavering support in encouraging innovation at FAAN.
“This is a new dawn for FAAN a dawn defined by technology, driven by efficiency, and dedicated to serving the Nigerian people better. With your cooperation, we are building airports that can compete with the best in the world,” Kuku said.
The launch of Operation Go-Cashless signals a decisive step by FAAN to transform Nigeria’s airports into globally competitive hubs, while boosting transparency, accountability, and financial sustainability.
