Keyamo ends VIP privileges at airport tollgates, vows full cashless shift
Festus Keyamo
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has shut the door on VIP exemptions at airport tollgates, blaming “big men” in Abuja for siphoning off half the revenue under the reinstated cashless/hybrid payment policy.
During an on-site inspection at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport tollgate, Keyamo said, “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.”
The minister, taking direct control after previous implementation hiccups by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), emphasised there’s “no going back on the cashless system.”
He revealed a presidential directive banning cash collections by federal agencies and cited a firm deadline from President Bola Tinubu at the last Federal Executive Council meeting: “‘Minister of Aviation, you have a deadline to go fully cashless’ and the moment Mr. President pushes me, I will also push those under me.”
Keyamo warned of consequences for delays, stating, “Before Mr. President sacks me, I will sack other people too.” This move reverses an earlier halt to the cashless policy under President Tinubu, aiming to plug revenue leaks and enforce nationwide Treasury Single Account compliance.
The hybrid system—blending cashless and limited cash options—represents a temporary bridge, but Keyamo stressed, “This will not last,” signalling a swift full transition.
