The Federal Government has approved the deployment of a contactless biometric passenger verification system, known as VPASS, across Nigeria’s domestic airports as part of efforts to strengthen aviation security, enhance data integrity, and improve revenue generation.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this
through a statement signed by the Director, Press and Public Affairs at the ministry, Chindaya Adamu on Thursday.
Keyamo said the initiative was designed to address data inconsistencies and unauthorised boarding practices in the aviation sector.
He said, “The initiative is designed to eliminate discrepancies in passenger data arising from inconsistent airline records, while also addressing unauthorized boarding practices.”
The minister added that the system would ensure proper identification of all domestic air travellers.
He said, “The system will ensure that all passengers on domestic flights are properly identified, thereby closing existing gaps that allow individuals to bypass Standard Identification Procedures.”
Keyamo noted that while strict identity verification measures were already in place for international travel, the VPASS system would extend similar standards to domestic operations.
He noted that the system would also be expanded to cover private aviation, further strengthening security oversight across the sector.
He described the project as a major reform in the aviation industry.
Keyamo said the project was “A comprehensive reform,” adding that it would “promote transparency, accountability, and safety in Nigeria’s aviation industry.”
He further explained that implementation would begin with infrastructure deployment by the concessionaire, followed by a nationwide sensitisation campaign to ensure public awareness and compliance.
The minister also commended key stakeholders, particularly the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, for their roles in advancing the initiative.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mahmud Kambari, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to modernising the aviation sector through technology-driven solutions aimed at improving operational efficiency, strengthening security, and enhancing passenger experience.
Earlier, the Director of Commercial and Business Development at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Adebola Agunbiade, described the VPASS system as a strategic step towards eliminating reliance on physical identification at airports.
She said, “The VPASS system is a strategic step towards eliminating reliance on physical identification at airports.”
Agunbiade added that the deployment of secure facial recognition technology would enable seamless passenger processing.
She stated, “the deployment of secure facial recognition technology will enable seamless passenger processing in line with global best practices.”
Also speaking through the statement, the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Johnson Ewalefoh, expressed satisfaction with the ongoing Public-Private Partnership efforts.
He said the partnerships were critical to strengthening Nigeria’s infrastructure, improving airport standards, and enhancing national security.
Ewalefoh commended the collaboration among stakeholders and emphasised the need for sustained commitment to accountability, efficiency, and timely project delivery to ensure the success of concession agreements.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of VERXID Technologies Limited, Adebayo Bankole, assured that the company would deploy a secure and integrated identity management system across Nigeria’s airports.
He said the solution would enhance passenger verification, curb unauthorised movement within airport facilities and support revenue assurance through accurate data analytics.
Recently, the rollout of a cashless payment system at airport access gates by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria triggered severe traffic congestion at major airports, including the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Motorists without the required prepaid access cards were denied entry, leading to long queues of vehicles and leaving several passengers stranded while attempting to reach departure terminals.
The situation prompted widespread complaints from travellers and motorists, with some passengers reportedly missing their flights due to the gridlock around airport toll gates.
Following the disruptions, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the immediate suspension of the cashless access gate payment system, directing authorities to review the policy and introduce a more efficient approach to electronic payment at airport entry points.
The ministry later introduced a hybrid arrangement allowing both cash and electronic payments at airport gates while working toward a more efficient automated system.
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