The Federal Government has approved the deployment of a contactless biometric passenger verification system, known as VPASS, across domestic airports to strengthen aviation security and improve operational efficiency.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the approval during the signing of a concession agreement for the project, describing it as a major step toward modernising the sector.
He said the system is designed to eliminate discrepancies in passenger data caused by inconsistent airline records and to prevent unauthorised boarding by ensuring proper identity verification.
According to the minister, VPASS will introduce stricter identification standards for domestic travel, similar to those already in place for international flights, closing existing gaps in passenger screening.
Keyamo added that the system will eventually be extended to private aviation, further enhancing oversight and security across the industry.
He noted that implementation will begin with infrastructure deployment by the concessionaire, followed by a nationwide awareness campaign to educate passengers on the new process.
Officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission said the initiative would improve transparency, reduce reliance on physical identification, and align Nigeria’s aviation processes with global best practices.
The developers of the system also assured that it would deliver secure, integrated identity management, enabling seamless passenger processing while supporting revenue generation through accurate data tracking.
