FAAN Plans Biometric Facial Verification System for Domestic Airports
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is set to introduce a biometric identity verification system, known as V-Pass, aimed at improving security and speeding up passenger processing at domestic airports.
The initiative, being implemented in partnership with Verxid Technologies Limited, will enable travellers to verify their identities using facial recognition technology, reducing reliance on physical identification documents during airport procedures.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said the rollout plans were discussed during a strategic meeting between the authority and Verxid, where both parties reviewed deployment strategies, security protocols and measures to improve the overall passenger experience.
Director of Commercial and Business Development at FAAN, Adebola Agunbiade, described the project as part of the agency’s efforts to leverage technology to strengthen aviation security while enhancing passenger convenience across Nigeria’s domestic airports.
Under the system, passengers will complete a one-time registration to create a secure digital identity. Nigerian travellers will enrol using their National Identification Number (NIN) alongside facial biometric capture, while foreign passengers will register with their international passports through optical character recognition (OCR) and biometric authentication.
The V-Pass platform will verify passengers at multiple checkpoints, including before they enter restricted airport areas and again before boarding their flights. FAAN said the two-stage verification process is designed to curb identity fraud, prevent unauthorised access and reduce cases of impersonation.
During the rollout phase, travellers will be able to complete the verification process through self-service kiosks or receive assistance from FAAN personnel. Electronic gates will also be deployed to automate access into controlled areas, shorten waiting times and improve passenger movement.
According to the developers, first-time registration is expected to take about one minute, while subsequent biometric verification will be completed in less than 30 seconds.
The platform will also provide airlines with secure digital access to flight schedules, passenger manifests and boarding statistics. FAAN, meanwhile, will manage a central system capable of monitoring passenger movement, generating operational analytics and supporting future integration with other airport technologies.
The authority said data protection remains a key component of the project, noting that the system complies with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR). Passenger information, it added, will not be stored on kiosks or handheld devices used during verification.
Ahead of the nationwide deployment, FAAN and Verxid plan to launch a public awareness campaign across television, radio, social media, airport announcements and airline communication channels to educate travellers on how the system works.
A live proof-of-concept demonstration and technical site assessment are also expected to be conducted before full implementation.
FAAN said the introduction of V-Pass forms part of its broader digital transformation programme aimed at building a more secure, efficient and technology-driven airport experience for domestic travellers.
