The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has concluded plans to deploy a biometric identity verification system, known as V-Pass, across the nation’s domestic airports.

This initiative is aimed at strengthening aviation security, reducing passenger processing time and eliminating dependence on physical identity documents.

A statement issued yesterday by FAAN‘s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said the new facial recognition platform, developed in partnership with Verxid Technologies Limited, would enable passengers to verify their identities through biometric authentication, allowing them seamless access through airport security checkpoints and boarding gates.

According to him, the initiative formed the focus of a strategic meeting between FAAN and Verxid Technologies Limited, where both organisations reviewed deployment plans, security safeguards and measures to improve passenger experience.

The statement hinted that the authority centred on ensuring the successful rollout of the digital platform while maintaining high security standards.

The statement quoted the Director of Commercial and Business Development, FAAN, Adebola Agunbiade as describing the V-Pass as another milestone in the authority’s ongoing digital transformation programme.

According to her, the platform indicated FAAN’s commitment to deploying innovative technology that enhances passenger facilitation while reinforcing aviation security across domestic airports.

She assured that the system would provide every traveller with a secure digital identity through a one-time enrolment process.

Under the arrangement, Nigerian passengers would register using their National Identification Number (NIN) alongside facial biometric capture, while foreign travellers would enroll with their passports through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) supported by biometric authentication, the statement added.

FAAN said the system would verify passenger identities before they gain access to restricted airport areas and once again before boarding their flights.

The agency noted that the dual-verification process was designed to prevent identity fraud, impersonation and unauthorised access to airport facilities, while giving security agencies greater confidence in passenger authentication.

Passengers would be able to complete the verification process either through self-service kiosks or with assistance from trained FAAN personnel.

The deployment would also include electronic gates to automate access into controlled areas, reduce queues and improve passenger movement across airport terminals.

According to the developers, first-time registration is expected to take about one minute, while subsequent biometric verification would take less than 30 seconds.

Apart from passenger processing, the V-Pass platform would also provide airlines with secure digital access to flight schedules, passenger manifests and boarding statistics.

FAAN assured travellers that data protection remained a critical component of the project, stressing that the platform fully complies with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).