The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will initiate the rollout of V-Pass, a biometric facial recognition system designed to streamline domestic air travel, starting July 2026. The system is developed in partnership with Verxid Technologies Limited to enhance security and passenger processing efficiency across Nigeria’s domestic airports.
V-Pass biometric verification process
V-Pass enables passengers to verify their identities using facial recognition technology combined with official identity documents. Nigerian travelers will register by linking their National Identification Number (NIN) with facial biometric capture. Foreign nationals will enrol through their international passports, employing optical character recognition (OCR) and biometric authentication. The system performs identity checks
twice: once before passengers gain access to restricted airport zones, and again before boarding flights. This dual-verification approach aims to prevent impersonation, unauthorized entry, and identity fraud.
System features, operations and data privacy
Passengers will have the option to use self-service kiosks for enrolment or receive assistance from FAAN staff during the initial rollout phase. Electronic gates (E-Gates) will replace manual access controls to regulated areas, reducing queuing times and improving passenger traffic flow. Once enrolled, biometric verification is expected to take under 30 seconds, with first-time registration requiring about one minute. The system conforms to the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, ensuring that passenger data privacy
is maintained by preventing data storage on kiosks or handheld devices.
Preparations ahead of nationwide launch
Before deploying V-Pass fully, FAAN and Verxid Technologies will conduct a live Proof of Concept demonstration and technical site assessment. In addition, a nationwide awareness campaign will run across television, radio, social media platforms, airport announcements, and airline advisories to educate passengers about the new biometric system.
Passenger benefits and digital transformation goals
FAAN expects V-Pass to create a faster, safer, and smoother air travel experience for domestic passengers by reducing dependence on physical identification documents and automating access controls. The platform will provide airlines with secure real-time access to flight schedules, passenger manifests, and
boarding statistics, while FAAN will utilize a Central Management System to track passenger movements and produce operational analytics. This initiative forms part of FAAN’s larger digital transformation strategy to modernize Nigeria’s domestic airport infrastructure by integrating biometric technology with advanced access control solutions.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, explained, “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.”
