New VPASS platform to replace manual identity checks, expand facial recognition use across Nigeria’s aviation sector….
The Federal Government has approved the rollout of a new biometric passenger identity verification system, known as VPASS, across all domestic airports in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen aviation security and modernise passenger processing.
The initiative, announced by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is designed to introduce a contactless biometric verification process that will improve identity checks, reduce fraud, and enhance operational efficiency in the aviation sector.
According to the ministry, the system will ensure that all passengers are properly identified through biometric data at the point of travel, replacing or significantly reducing reliance on manual verification methods currently in use at domestic terminals.
Officials say the rollout is part of broader reforms aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and data integrity within Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem, while also closing loopholes that have been exploited in existing passenger identification processes.
Under the new framework, VPASS will first be deployed across domestic airports before being expanded to cover private aviation operations in later phases.
The system will be implemented by VERXID Technologies Limited under a public-private partnership arrangement, with infrastructure deployment expected to be followed by nationwide sensitisation to ensure smooth adoption by passengers and operators.
Stakeholders involved in the project include the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, and private sector partners working together to deliver the system.
Officials from the aviation sector say the technology will use facial recognition and biometric matching to streamline passenger processing, reduce congestion, and eliminate reliance on physical identification documents at boarding points.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Mahmud Adamu Kambari, said the initiative reflects a broader push by the government to modernise aviation infrastructure using digital tools and global best practices.
Industry stakeholders also described the system as a major step toward reducing human interference in airport operations, improving data accuracy, and strengthening revenue assurance mechanisms across the sector.
The Managing Director of VERXID Technologies Limited, Adebayo Bankole, noted that the platform would also help curb unauthorized movement within airport facilities by ensuring that only properly verified passengers gain access to boarding areas.
Beyond security improvements, the system is expected to enhance efficiency by speeding up passenger clearance and aligning Nigeria’s domestic air travel processes with international standards already in place for international flights.
The introduction of VPASS follows earlier efforts by the government to deploy electronic gates at international airports, including Lagos and Abuja, as part of ongoing reforms to digitise immigration and passenger processing systems.
If fully implemented, officials say the biometric verification system could mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s aviation sector, reducing bottlenecks, tightening security, and moving airport operations further into a fully digital, data-driven era.
