The Federal Government has approved a concession agreement for the deployment of a contactless biometric passenger verification system across domestic airports in Nigeria, aimed at strengthening aviation security and improving data accuracy in the aviation sector.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Friday, noting that the initiative is part of ongoing reforms to modernise airport operations and enhance national security.
According to him, the system—known as VPASS—will be deployed across all domestic airports to ensure seamless passenger identification and eliminate discrepancies arising from inconsistent airline records.
Keyamo explained that the agreement was signed on behalf of the Federal Government following the required approvals from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Federal Executive Council.
He said the VPASS system is designed to close existing loopholes that allow unauthorised boarding and to ensure that all passengers on domestic flights are properly identified before departure.
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The minister added that the initiative would also enhance data integrity across the aviation sector, improve operational efficiency, and boost revenue generation for government agencies involved in air transport management.
By integrating contactless biometric technology, the system is expected to modernise passenger verification processes and align Nigeria’s aviation security framework with global best practices.
Authorities say the rollout of VPASS represents a significant step in addressing long-standing challenges in passenger documentation and identity verification within the country’s domestic flight operations.
The Federal Government maintains that the project will contribute to safer, more transparent, and more efficient air travel across Nigeria as implementation progresses.