The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has unveiled a sweeping reform agenda aimed at transforming operations, boosting revenue, and improving passenger experience across Nigerian airports. This was disclosed at the 2025 Directorate of Commercial and Business Development Stakeholders Engagement Forum held in Lagos.
Key among the initiatives is the transition to a fully cashless and contactless payment system across all FAAN-managed facilities. FAAN will begin with access toll gates at Lagos and Abuja airports, deploying digital platforms such as payment cards, QR codes, prepaid cards, and mobile payment options compatible with Apple Pay and similar systems. An “airport card” system is also being introduced to simplify payments across airport services.
Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, emphasized that the automation drive is central to eliminating outdated and opaque practices, increasing transparency, and ensuring traceable financial transactions. She noted that cash transactions at payment points are no longer acceptable, revealing that staff found involved in illegal collections have been sanctioned.
Kuku also announced plans to review airport tariffs in line with current economic realities while ensuring that service providers are notified in advance to enable proper planning. She revealed that while 92% of FAAN’s revenue currently comes from aeronautical sources, the agency is targeting greater non-aeronautical earnings by expanding retail and concession opportunities.
FAAN is also introducing a digital retail platform to streamline business applications, manage tenant mix within terminals, and enhance the overall commercial offering. According to Director of Commercial and Business Development, Ms. Adebola Joy Agunbiade, the platform will simplify renewals, increase transparency, and promote business efficiency.
The agency is also addressing issues of touting, unauthorized vendors, and land speculation. Concessionaires linked to unregulated activities, such as car hire and Bureau de Change operators, face the risk of losing licenses. FAAN is collaborating with state governments to remove illegal structures, including parked fuel tankers around airport corridors.
Additionally, FAAN is upgrading airport security with a biometric-based access control system that will incorporate National Identification Numbers (NIN), Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), and other data for identity verification at boarding gates.
To clean up land records and eliminate speculative allocations, FAAN has deployed a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping solution. Stakeholders were warned that anyone found manipulating land assets will face strict consequences.
Kuku reaffirmed FAAN’s commitment to a transparent, efficient, and globally competitive airport environment, promising continuous stakeholder engagement as these reforms are rolled out.
