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FAAN Unveils Biometric Verification System To Streamline Domestic Air Travel
Under the V-Pass system, travellers will receive a secure digital identity through a one-time enrolment process.
A file photo of travellers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced the rollout of V-Pass, a biometric identity verification system designed to make domestic air travel faster, safer and more seamless.
Developed in partnership with Verxid Technologies Limited, the system will enable passengers to verify their identities through facial recognition technology, reducing reliance on physical identification documents at airports.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire.
According to the statement, the rollout was reviewed during a strategic meeting between FAAN and Verxid Technologies Limited, where both parties discussed deployment plans, security protocols and measures to enhance the passenger experience.
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FAAN’s Director of Commercial and Business Development, Ms Adebola, said the initiative underscores the authority’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve passenger facilitation and strengthen aviation security across domestic airports.
Under the V-Pass system, travellers will receive a secure digital identity through a one-time enrolment process.
“Nigerian passengers will register with their NIN and facial biometric capture, while foreign passengers will enrol using international passports through OCR and biometric authentication. The system will check passengers before they enter restricted areas and again before boarding,” the statement said.
FAAN explained that the dual-verification process is designed to prevent impersonation, unauthorised access and identity fraud, while providing security agencies with greater confidence in passenger authentication.
During the rollout phase, passengers will be able to use self-service kiosks or receive assistance from FAAN personnel.
The authority added that electronic gates (E-Gates) will automate access to controlled areas, reduce queues and improve passenger flow. According to the developers, biometric verification will take less than 30 seconds after enrolment, while first-time registration is expected to take about one minute.
The V-Pass platform will also provide airlines with secure access to flight schedules, passenger manifests and boarding statistics through a digital interface.
FAAN noted that the system includes a Central Management System capable of tracking passenger movement, generating analytics and supporting future integration with other airport technologies.
The authority and Verxid Technologies Limited emphasised that data privacy remains a key component of the project.
According to the statement, the system complies with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), and passenger data will not be stored on kiosks or handheld devices.
Ahead of the full deployment, FAAN and Verxid plan to embark on a nationwide sensitisation campaign across television, radio, social media platforms, airport announcements and airline advisories to educate passengers on the use of the V-Pass system.
A live Proof of Concept demonstration and technical site assessment will also be conducted before the system is fully rolled out.
Ms Adebola said V-Pass forms part of FAAN’s broader digital transformation agenda.
FAAN added that by combining biometric technology with modern access control systems, it aims to build a smarter, safer and more efficient airport experience for domestic travellers.
