FG Unveils Biometric ‘VPASS’ To Tighten Airport Security, Boost Revenue
By Stella Enenche, Abuja
The Federal Government has approved the rollout of a contactless biometric passenger verification system, VPASS, across Nigeria’s domestic airports to strengthen aviation security, improve data integrity and enhance revenue generation.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this on Thursday during the signing of a concession agreement in Abuja.
Keyamo said the VPASS system is designed to eliminate discrepancies in passenger data caused by inconsistent airline records, while also tackling cases of unauthorized boarding.
According to him, the platform will ensure that all passengers on domestic flights are properly identified, closing loopholes that have allowed individuals to bypass standard identification procedures.
He noted that while strict identity verification protocols already exist for international travel, the introduction of VPASS will extend similar standards to domestic operations.
The Minister added that the system would, in due course, be expanded to cover private aviation, further strengthening security oversight across the sector.
Describing the initiative as a comprehensive reform, Keyamo said it would promote transparency, accountability and safety in the aviation industry.
He added that implementation would begin with infrastructure deployment by the concessionaire, followed by a nationwide sensitisation campaign to drive public awareness and compliance.
Key stakeholders, including the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, were commended for their roles in advancing the project.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mahmud Kambari, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernising the aviation sector through innovative, technology-driven solutions aimed at improving efficiency, strengthening security and enhancing passenger experience.
Also speaking, the Director of Commercial and Business Development at FAAN, Adebola Agunbiade, described VPASS as a strategic move to phase out reliance on physical identification at airports.
Agunbiade in a statement by the ministry ‘s Director Press and Public Affairs, Chindaya Adamu, explained that the deployment of secure facial recognition technology would enable seamless passenger processing in line with global best practices.
Agunbiade added that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s broader objective of upgrading aviation infrastructure, noting that FAAN would continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and regulators to ensure effective implementation, sustainability and scalability.
The Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Johnson Ewalefoh, expressed satisfaction with ongoing public-private partnership efforts, describing them as vital to improving airport standards and enhancing national security.
He stressed the importance of sustained commitment to accountability, efficiency and timely project delivery to ensure the success of concession agreements.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of VERXID Technologies Limited, Adebayo Bankole, assured that the company would deploy a secure and integrated identity management system across the nation’s airports.
He said the solution would strengthen passenger verification, curb unauthorised movement within airport facilities and support revenue assurance through accurate data analytics.
