The Federal Government has started a new system to verify passengers, using biometrics for domestic flights, across all domestic airports, to improve safety and stop fraud.
The announcement was made on Thursday, 9th of April, 2026, by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during the signing of a concession agreement for the project, at the ministry’s conference room in Abuja.
It was reported that the system, called Verified Passenger System (VPASS), will use facial recognition to confirm passenger identity before boarding flights.
The government said the system will help fix problems with wrong passenger data and stop people from boarding flights with false identity.
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Keyamo said the system will make sure all passengers are properly identified, adding that it will close gaps in airport security.
“The system will ensure that all passengers… are properly identified…The initiative is designed to eliminate discrepancies in passenger data.” Keyamo said.
He explained that strict identity checks already exist for international travel, noting that the new system will now bring the same level of checks to domestic flights.
Reports indicate that the project is a partnership between the government and VERXID Technologies Limited, which is the firm handling the system.
Reports also have it that the system will use Nigeria’s National Identification Number (NIN) database to verify passengers, to make the process faster and more accurate.
It was further gathered that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will also play a key role in running the system at airports.
Officials say the move will improve airport security, as well as help increase government revenue.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mahmud Kambari, said the government wants to modernise aviation with new technology, adding that the system will improve how airports work and make travel easier for passengers.
Also speaking, FAAN’s Director of Commercial and Business Development, Adebola Agunbiade said the system will reduce the use of physical ID cards at airports.
She added that facial recognition will help passengers move faster through airport checks.
“The VPASS system is a strategic step towards eliminating reliance on physical identification…Secure facial recognition… will enable seamless passenger processing.” Agunbiade noted.
Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Johnson Ewalefoh, said the project shows the value of public and private partnerships.
He said such partnerships are important for better infrastructure and national security.
Also speaking on the project, Managing Director of VERXID, Adebayo Bankole, said the company will deliver a secure identity system.
He said the system will reduce illegal movement inside airports and improve data tracking.
Reports according to Experts indicate that the new system follows global trends, where airports use biometrics for safety and speed.
It was gathered that the federal government plans to start with infrastructure setup, before educating the public on how to use the system.
Officials also said the system may later be extended to private aviation in Nigeria.
Reports indicate that with this move, Nigeria joins other countries using technology to make air travel safer and more efficient.
