The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) plans to implement the V-Pass biometric facial recognition system across domestic airports starting in July 2026. Developed in collaboration with Verxid Technologies Limited, V-Pass will digitally verify passenger identities using facial recognition to reduce dependency on physical identification documents.
Passenger Enrolment Process at Nigerian Airports
Nigerian travellers will register for the system using their National Identification Number (NIN) combined with facial biometric capture. Foreign passengers will enrol by scanning their international passports through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and biometric authentication. This single registration grants passengers a secure digital identity for domestic air travel.
Dual Verification to Enhance Security
The V-Pass system will verify passengers
twice: before granting access to restricted airport areas and again prior to boarding flights. This dual-verification method aims to prevent identity fraud, impersonation, and unauthorized access, thereby bolstering confidence among security agencies responsible for passenger authentication. FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, explained that Nigerian and foreign passengers’ identities will be confirmed through facial recognition at these checkpoints.
Improved Passenger Experience Through Automation
To facilitate enrolment and verification, passengers will have access to self-service kiosks at airports, alongside assistance from FAAN staff during the rollout period. Electronic gates (E-Gates) will automate entry to controlled zones, minimizing queue times and expediting passenger
flow. Post-enrolment facial biometric verification will take under 30 seconds, while first-time registration is expected to require approximately one minute.
Backend Systems and Data Privacy Compliance
FAAN will operate a Central Management System that tracks passenger movements within airports, generates analytics, and enables integration with other airport systems in the future. Airlines will receive secure access to flight schedules, passenger manifests, and boarding statistics via the V-Pass digital platform. The company and its partner, Verxid Technologies, emphasized that passenger data will not be stored on kiosks or handheld devices. The system complies fully with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), ensuring data privacy remains a core
priority.
Preparation and Broader Digital Transformation
Prior to the full rollout in July 2026, FAAN and Verxid Technologies will conduct a nationwide sensitisation campaign using television, radio, social media, airport announcements, and airline advisories to educate passengers on the system. Additionally, a live Proof of Concept demonstration and technical site assessments will precede deployment. According to FAAN Director of Commercial and Business Development, Ms Adebola, this initiative reflects FAAN’s commitment to employing technology to enhance passenger facilitation and aviation security as part of its wider digital transformation strategy for domestic airports.
