The Federal Government has approved the deployment of a new contactless biometric passenger verification system known as VPASS across domestic airports in Nigeria, in a move aimed at strengthening aviation security and improving passenger data integrity.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the initiative on Thursday, describing it as a major reform designed to eliminate inconsistencies in airline passenger records and curb unauthorised boarding practices.
According to the minister, the system will ensure that all domestic air travellers are properly identified before boarding flights, closing existing gaps in Standard Identification Procedures.
Keyamo said the rollout would extend strict identity verification—already used in international travel—to domestic routes and eventually private aviation operations as well.
He explained that the VPASS platform is part of a broader effort to promote transparency, accountability, and safety within Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The system will rely on contactless biometric technology, including facial recognition, to enable seamless passenger verification and reduce reliance on physical identification documents at airports.
Officials from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said the initiative would improve efficiency in passenger processing and align Nigeria’s airport operations with global best practices.
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria also noted that the system is expected to enhance operational security and reduce bottlenecks associated with manual verification processes.
The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) commended the public-private partnership driving the project, while stressing the importance of accountability and timely delivery in its implementation.
Technology partner VERXID Technologies Limited said it would deploy an integrated identity management system to support passenger verification, reduce unauthorised movement within airport terminals, and improve revenue assurance through better data analytics.
The rollout comes shortly after disruptions caused by the introduction of a cashless payment system at airport access gates in Lagos and Abuja, which led to severe congestion and flight delays. That policy was later suspended following public backlash and a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Authorities later adopted a hybrid payment approach while working toward a more fully automated system.
The VPASS deployment is now expected to form part of Nigeria’s wider digital transformation of airport infrastructure and security systems.
