Nigeria Signs Deal To Introduce Biometric Verification For Passengers At All Domestic Airports
Nigeria Signs Deal To Introduce Biometric Verification For Passengers At All Domestic Airports
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who disclosed this in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, said that the Nigerian government on Thursday finalized arrangements to roll out the system, known as VPASS.
The Nigerian government has announced the signing of a concession agreement to deploy a nationwide biometric passenger verification system across domestic airports.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who disclosed this in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, said that the Nigerian government on Thursday finalized arrangements to roll out the system, known as VPASS.
“Yesterday, I signed a concession agreement on behalf of the Federal Government for the deployment of a contactless biometric passenger verification system, known as VPASS, across Nigeria’s domestic airports as part of efforts to strengthen aviation security, enhance data integrity, and improve revenue generation,” the minister said.
Keyamo stressed that the deal did not bypass due process, noting that it received clearance from key regulatory and legal institutions.
“This came after the necessary concurrence of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the approval of the Federal Executive Council,” he stated.
According to Keyamo, the VPASS system is expected to tackle long-standing irregularities in Nigeria’s aviation sector, particularly discrepancies in passenger records and alleged cases of unauthorized boarding.
“The initiative is designed to eliminate discrepancies in passenger data arising from inconsistent airline records, while also addressing unauthorized boarding practices,” he added.
He further stated that the technology would tighten identity verification protocols at airports nationwide.
“The system will ensure that all passengers on domestic flights are properly identified, thereby closing existing gaps that allow individuals to bypass Standard Identification Procedures,” he said.
