Officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) vacated the access tollgate at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, hours after President Bola Tinubu ordered the suspension of the airport cashless payment policy.
A motorist who passed through the gate shortly after the announcement said no FAAN personnel were present, and barricades had been left open, allowing vehicles to move freely without payment or checks.
“I’m surprised I passed through the tollgate about 20 minutes ago and no single FAAN official was on ground. I guess they are restrategising,” the motorist said.
The move follows the Federal Government’s decision to halt the recently introduced cashless regime at airport tollgates, which had caused confusion and severe traffic gridlock, especially at Lagos and Abuja airports.
Eyewitnesses said the absence of officials led to a free flow of traffic at the usually congested tollgate, a sharp contrast to the long queues experienced when the policy was being enforced.
FAAN has yet to issue an official statement clarifying operational directives at the MMIA access gate following the suspension order.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the President’s directive while briefing correspondents at the State House after the Federal Executive Council meeting.
“Mr President was very concerned about the welfare of Nigerians and the fact that many were missing their flights. He therefore directed the suspension of the current system because it creates gridlock and Nigerians are suffering,” Keyamo said.
He added that the ministry and FAAN have been instructed to revert temporarily to the previous payment system while a more efficient electronic solution is developed.
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