By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Federal Government has approved the deployment of VPASS, a contactless biometric passenger verification system, across Nigeria’s domestic airports to strengthen aviation security, improve data integrity and boost revenue.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, 9 April ,2026 in Abuja by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Chindaya Adamu.
He explained that the initiative targets data inconsistencies and unauthorised boarding practices within the sector.
Keyamo said the system would eliminate discrepancies in passenger records and enforce strict identity verification for domestic travellers.
“The initiative is designed to eliminate discrepancies in passenger data arising from inconsistent airline records, while also addressing unauthorized boarding practices,” he said.
He added that the platform would ensure proper identification of all passengers and close existing gaps in the system.
“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,” he stated.
The Minister noted that while strict identity checks already apply to international travel, VPASS would extend similar standards to domestic operations. He added that the system would also be expanded to private aviation to strengthen oversight.
Describing the project as a major reform, Keyamo said it would promote transparency, accountability and safety in the aviation industry.
According to him, implementation will begin with infrastructure deployment by the concessionaire, followed by a nationwide sensitisation campaign to drive compliance.
He commended key stakeholders, including the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), for advancing the initiative.
In the same vein, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mahmud Kambari, reaffirmed government’s commitment to modernising the sector through technology-driven solutions to improve efficiency, security and passenger experience.
Similarly, FAAN’s Director of Commercial and Business Development, Adebola Agunbiade, described VPASS as a strategic step to eliminate reliance on physical identification at airports.
“The VPASS system is a strategic step towards eliminating reliance on physical identification at airports,” she said, adding that “the deployment of secure facial recognition technology will enable seamless passenger processing in line with global best practices.”
Also, the Director General of the ICRC, Johnson Ewalefoh, said ongoing Public-Private Partnership efforts remain critical to strengthening infrastructure, improving airport standards and enhancing national security, while urging sustained accountability and efficiency.
On his part, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of VERXID Technologies Limited, Adebayo Bankole, assured that a secure and integrated identity management system would be deployed nationwide to enhance passenger verification, curb unauthorised movement and support revenue assurance through accurate data analytics.
The development follows recent disruptions caused by the rollout of a cashless payment system at airport access gates by FAAN, which led to severe traffic congestion at major airports, including the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Motorists without prepaid access cards were denied entry, resulting in long queues and leaving several passengers stranded, with some missing flights.
Following the backlash, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the immediate suspension of the policy and directed a review to ensure a more efficient system.
Subsequently, the ministry introduced a hybrid arrangement allowing both cash and electronic payments, while working towards a fully automated solution.
