Keyamo Cracks Down on VIP Privileges at Nigerian Airport Tollgates

March 14, 2026

Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, has ordered an end to the special privileges previously granted to Very Important Persons (VIPs) at airport access gates as part of the reinstated cashless and hybrid payment policy.

Keyamo made this known on Friday during an on-the-spot assessment of the policy’s implementation at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

He also emphasized that the government remains committed to enforcing the cashless policy introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), noting that authorities will not back down from ensuring its full implementation.

“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, whether SA, SSA, or SSTTA.

“There is no going back on the cashless system.

“We are going to go cashless. In fact, at the last Federal Executive Council meeting, Mr. President gave me a deadline. He was very clear that I have a deadline. He said, ‘Minister of Aviation, you have a deadline to go fully cashless’, nd the moment Mr. President pushes me, I will also push those under me.

Airfare — Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo

“Before Mr. President sacks me, I will sack other people too. I will sack other people too. Before now, I left implementation fully to FAAN, and the nitty-gritty was worked out by FAAN, but as the minister, I take full responsibility, and I have to take full control.

“I would not leave my fate in the hands of any other person, and that is why I am here today to take my own fate into my hands and see how they are implementing the hybrid system, but this will not last.”

Recall that the Nigerian government had announced the implementation of a cashless payment policy at Nigerian airports from March 1, 2026.

President Bola Tinubu ordered the suspension of the policy after it caused gridlock at the airports.

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