FAAN phases out physical ID checks for domestic flights, deploys facial recognition system
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has begun rolling out a biometric identity verification system called V-Pass, which will allow domestic air travellers to confirm their identities through facial recognition, eliminating the need to present physical identification documents at airport checkpoints.
Henry Agbebire, FAAN's Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, announced the development in a statement, describing V-Pass as a tool designed to make domestic air travel faster, safer, and more seamless.
Under the new system, passengers undergo a one-time enrolment process that creates a secure digital identity. Nigerian citizens will register using their National Identification Number (NIN) and a facial biometric capture. Foreign passengers, on the other hand, will enrol using their international passports, with identity details extracted through optical character recognition (OCR) and biometric authentication.
The system applies a dual-verification process. Passengers are checked once before entering restricted areas and again just before boarding. FAAN says this two-step approach is meant to prevent impersonation, unauthorised access, and identity fraud, while also giving security agencies greater confidence in passenger authentication.
During the rollout phase, passengers can either use self-service kiosks to complete their verification or seek assistance from FAAN staff stationed at the airports. E-gates will eventually automate access to controlled areas, significantly reducing queues and improving overall passenger flow.
According to the developers, the biometric processing time is less than 30 seconds after initial enrolment, while first-time registration takes about one minute.
The system also offers benefits to airlines. Through a digital platform, carriers will have secure access to flight schedules, passenger manifests, and boarding statistics, streamlining their own operations.
For FAAN, the V-Pass system includes a Central Management System that tracks passenger movement in real time, generates analytics, and supports future integration with other airport systems, laying the groundwork for a more connected and data-driven airport environment.
FAAN and its technology partner, Verxid, have stressed that data privacy is central to the project. The system is designed to comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), and passenger data will not be stored on kiosks or handheld devices at any point during the process.
Before full deployment, FAAN and Verxid plan to launch a nationwide sensitisation campaign. The campaign will run across television, radio, social media, airport announcements, and airline advisories to help passengers understand how V-Pass works and what is expected of them.
Additionally, a live Proof of Concept demonstration and a technical site assessment will be carried out at select airports ahead of the full rollout, to ensure the system operates smoothly and securely.