The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has unveiled a new biometric passenger verification system, VPASS, aimed at strengthening airport security and boosting revenue across Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the initiative on Thursday during the signing of a concession agreement in Abuja.

Keyamo said the contactless system is designed to address inconsistencies in passenger data and eliminate cases of unauthorised boarding.

According to him, VPASS will ensure proper identification of all domestic passengers, extending the kind of strict verification processes already in place for international travel.

He added that the system will later be expanded to cover private aviation, further tightening security across the industry.

Describing the project as a major reform, the minister said it would enhance transparency, accountability, and safety within Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem.

Implementation is expected to begin with infrastructure deployment, followed by a nationwide sensitisation campaign to drive public awareness and compliance.

The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with key agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mahmud Adamu Kambari, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernising the aviation sector through technology-driven solutions that improve efficiency, security, and passenger experience.

Also speaking, FAAN’s Director of Commercial and Business Development, Adebola Agunbiade, said the system would reduce reliance on physical identification by introducing secure facial recognition for seamless passenger processing in line with global standards.

Director General of the ICRC, Johnson Oseodion Ewalefoh, highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in strengthening infrastructure and improving airport standards, while emphasising accountability and timely delivery.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of VERXID Technologies Limited, Adebayo Bankole, assured that the company would deploy a secure, integrated identity management system to enhance passenger verification, curb unauthorised access within airports, and improve revenue tracking through accurate data analytics.(The Sun)