…Says It Is An Achievable Feat

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has stated its readiness to commence cashless transactions across airports in the country to ensure ease of payment, create payment options and improve the speed and convenience of payment very soon.

The General Manager Corporate Communications, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, while speaking on behalf the agency, disclosed that all the necessary arrangements had been put in place for the smooth take off of the exercise.

She added that the cashless transactions will reduce the carrying of cash, as transactions will be made in different forms using POS, money transfers, adding that remita agents have also been positioned strategically at various points across the airports.

She explained that the initiative, which was designed  under the Presidential Enabling Environment Business Council(PEBEC) to ensure convenience and curb corruption, identifying car parks, cargo section, chartered /unscheduled flights among others would be affected by the introduction of digital payment system.

According to her, “It will help FAAN to eliminate leakages and further increase revenue base of the organization. No government official will handle cash during transactions when the exercise takes off. We are soliciting the cooperation of all airport users, concessionaires and the general public to ensure a hitch free exercise”

On why FAAN decided to introduce digital payment, Yakubu stated that it was as a result of the success of the Executive Order by the Federal Government and also in a bid to create enabling business environment in the country especially within the airports as entry points into the country.

She explained further that it was to ensure that those doing business at airports in the country were not harassed but furnished with accurate information on what and where to pay at every point in time.

She added that Visa on arrival, which has commenced at the airport was part of the Ease of Doing Business.

Yakubu noted that at the end, it would be a win – win situation for both FAAN and its numerous customers, stressing that the agency has been repositioned to provide more improved services for customers.

She informed that sensitisation of the general public through jingles on the matter was in progress.