FG APPROVES CONTACTLESS BIOMETRIC VERIFICATION SYSTEM AT NIGERIAN AIRPORTS

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By: Balogun Ibrahim

The Federal Government has approved the rollout of a contactless biometric passenger verification system, known as VPASS, across Nigeria’s domestic airports as part of efforts to strengthen aviation security, improve data accuracy, and boost revenue generation.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Chindaya Adamu.

Keyamo said the initiative aims to eliminate inconsistencies in passenger records and curb unauthorised boarding practices within the aviation sector.

He explained that the system would ensure all domestic air travellers are properly identified, closing existing loopholes that allow individuals to bypass standard identification procedures.

According to him, while strict identity checks are already enforced for international flights, the VPASS system will extend similar verification standards to domestic travel, with plans to eventually cover private aviation as well.

The minister described the project as a comprehensive reform designed to enhance transparency, accountability, and safety in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

He added that implementation would begin with infrastructure deployment by the concessionaire, followed by a nationwide awareness campaign to ensure smooth adoption and compliance.

Keyamo also commended key stakeholders, including the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, for their contributions to the initiative.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mahmud Kambari, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernising the aviation sector through technology-driven solutions aimed at improving efficiency, security, and passenger experience.

Meanwhile, the Director of Commercial and Business Development at FAAN, Adebola Agunbiade, described VPASS as a strategic move to reduce reliance on physical identification at airports, noting that facial recognition technology would enable smoother passenger processing in line with global best practices.

The Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Johnson Ewalefoh, also expressed support for the public-private partnership driving the project, saying it would strengthen infrastructure delivery, improve airport standards, and enhance national security.

He stressed the importance of sustained collaboration, accountability, and timely implementation to ensure the success of concession agreements.

The Managing Director and CEO of VERXID Technologies Limited, Adebayo Bankole, assured that the company would deploy a secure, integrated identity management system across Nigeria’s airports to improve verification, prevent unauthorised movement, and support revenue assurance through data analytics.

The development follows recent disruptions caused by the rollout of a cashless payment system at airport access gates, which led to traffic congestion at major airports, including Abuja and Lagos, with some passengers reportedly missing flights.

In response, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the suspension of the cashless access payment system and directed a review of the policy.

The ministry subsequently introduced a hybrid payment arrangement while working toward a fully automated system.