April 10, (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has approved the nationwide deployment of a contactless biometric passenger verification system known as VPASS across Nigeria’s domestic airports, in a major reform to strengthen aviation security, eliminate identity discrepancies, and boost revenue generation across the sector.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, disclosed this on Thursday during the signing of a concession agreement held at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Abuja on 9th April, 2026, describing the initiative as a transformative step in Nigeria’s aviation modernisation agenda.
Keyamo said the introduction of VPASS represents a decisive intervention to close long-standing gaps in passenger identity management and restore confidence in domestic air travel operations.
“This initiative is designed to eliminate discrepancies in passenger data arising from inconsistent airline records, while also addressing unauthorised boarding practices that have compromised the integrity of our domestic aviation system”, he said.
Keyamo explained that the new biometric platform will ensure that all passengers on domestic flights are properly identified through secure, contactless verification technology, thereby strengthening compliance with standard aviation security procedures.
“With VPASS, every passenger will be properly identified before boarding. We are closing the loopholes that have allowed individuals to bypass standard identification procedures at our airports”, Keyamo stated.
The Minister noted that while similar stringent identity verification systems are already in place for international travel, the introduction of VPASS extends the same level of security architecture to domestic flight operations, marking a significant upgrade in Nigeria’s aviation safety framework.
He further revealed that the system will, in subsequent phases, be expanded to include private aviation operations, thereby enhancing regulatory oversight and ensuring comprehensive security coverage across all air transport categories in the country.
Describing the initiative as a comprehensive sector reform, Keyamo emphasised that VPASS would promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency in airport operations while strengthening passenger safety.
“This is not just a technology upgrade; it is a comprehensive reform that will promote transparency, accountability, and safety across our aviation sector”, he added.
He stated that implementation will begin with the deployment of infrastructure by the concessionaire, followed by a nationwide sensitisation campaign to ensure public awareness and smooth adoption across airports.
The Minister commended key institutional partners, particularly the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), for their roles in facilitating the successful execution of the Public-Private Partnership arrangement.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mahmud Adamu Kambari, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising Nigeria’s aviation industry through innovative, technology-driven solutions.
“We are committed to modernising the aviation sector through innovative, technology-driven solutions that improve efficiency, strengthen security, and enhance passenger experience”, he said, adding that the VPASS initiative aligns with the government’s broader digital transformation agenda and aviation reform objectives.
Earlier, the Director of Commercial and Business Development at FAAN, Mrs Adebola Agunbiade, described VPASS as a strategic innovation that will eliminate reliance on physical identification at airport terminals.
“This system will remove the inefficiencies associated with manual identification and ensure seamless passenger processing in line with global best practices”, she said.
Agunbiade explained that facial recognition and biometric authentication will significantly improve passenger flow and reduce congestion at airport terminals.
Also speaking, the Director General, Johnson Oseodion Ewalefoh, commended the Public-Private Partnership framework driving the project, describing it as essential to infrastructure development and national security enhancement.
“Public-private partnerships like this are critical to strengthening our infrastructure base and improving service delivery across key sectors of the economy”, he said.
He stressed the need for accountability and timely delivery to ensure the success of concession agreements.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of VERXID Technologies Limited, Mr Adebayo Bankole, assured that the company is fully prepared for the seamless implementation of the system across Nigeria’s airports.
“We are deploying a secure, integrated identity management system that will enhance passenger verification, curb unauthorised movement within airport facilities, and improve revenue assurance through accurate data analytics,” he said.
With the rollout of VPASS, the Federal Government says Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector is entering a new phase of digital transformation, aimed at aligning airport operations with global standards while reinforcing safety, transparency, and efficiency across all passenger touchpoints.
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