FAAN Cashless Toll Enforcement at Lagos Airport Triggers Severe Traffic Gridlock

Motorists and air travellers experienced major disruption on Sunday after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) commenced strict implementation of a cashless toll payment system at the access gate leading to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The sudden enforcement significantly slowed vehicular movement around the airport toll plaza, triggering extensive congestion that left hundreds stranded. Both outbound and inbound traffic to the domestic and international terminals were heavily affected, as vehicles queued for long periods while attempting to comply with the new electronic payment requirement.

Speaking on the development, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, stated that the transition to a digital-only toll system was introduced to eliminate revenue leakages and strengthen internal financial accountability. According to him, the policy is part of broader reforms aimed at improving operational transparency across the aviation authority.

The gridlock forced several travellers to abandon their cars and seek alternative transportation in order to avoid missing scheduled flights. Commercial motorcycle operators, despite existing airport access limitations, reportedly capitalised on the situation by increasing fares by as much as 200 percent.

Eyewitnesses observed that motorists spent up to 20 minutes at the tollgate — a journey that would typically take less than sixty seconds. The delays created heightened frustration at what serves as one of the busiest entry points into the airport complex.

Tension also flared between drivers and toll officials, particularly in cases involving unsuccessful electronic transactions and delayed payment confirmations. Some commuters accused FAAN of introducing the policy without adequate public sensitisation, arguing that clearer communication would have prevented confusion.

One affected motorist, Adebayo Awojobi, described waiting in traffic for nearly an hour. He questioned how the situation might escalate during peak weekday operations and expressed concern that personnel on duty appeared overwhelmed by the surge in users attempting to obtain or load access cards.

However, Agbebire rejected claims that the public was insufficiently informed. He maintained that the implementation aligns with the Federal Government’s ongoing push toward a fully digital economy, stressing that the objective is to reduce extortion, promote accountability, and enhance revenue generation for the authority.

He further attributed part of the disruption to motorists who delayed compliance until enforcement began. According to him, adequate access cards had been made available ahead of time for intending users.

“The access card is provided at no initial cost,” Agbebire explained, “but once loaded with either N2,000 or N1,000, a maintenance charge of N500 is deducted.”

The situation underscores the operational challenges that can accompany sudden digital transitions in high-traffic public infrastructure hubs, particularly when large volumes of users attempt to adapt simultaneously.