Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has announced that special VIP privileges at airport tollgates will no longer be allowed under the newly reintroduced hybrid payment system.
The minister said the practice of allowing influential individuals to bypass payments has significantly affected government revenue, noting that many people in Abuja claim official status. According to him, a large portion of expected income has been lost because of these exemptions.

Keyamo stressed that the Federal Government remains committed to transitioning fully to a cashless payment system. He explained that the current hybrid model is only temporary, adding that a directive from the Federal Government already prohibits federal agencies from collecting cash.

The minister also revealed that Bola Tinubu has given him a clear deadline to ensure the aviation sector adopts a fully cashless system.

He stated that once the President pushes for implementation, he will also demand strict compliance from agencies under his supervision. Keyamo further warned that he would not hesitate to sanction officials who fail to comply with the directive.

The Aviation Minister made the remarks during an inspection visit to the tollgate at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where he assessed how the hybrid payment system is being implemented.

The inspection follows the Federal Government’s earlier decision to suspend the immediate rollout of the cashless toll policy, opting instead for a transitional hybrid system while preparations for a full cashless operation continue.