NCAA pilots RFID tracking to end baggage chaos at Nigerian airports
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is pushing forward with plans to deploy Radio Frequency Identification technology at airports nationwide, aiming to put an end to the persistent problem of lost, delayed, and misrouted passenger luggage.
The system, which tracks bags from check-in through to aircraft loading and final arrival, was unveiled at a technology briefing for airlines, ground handlers, and other industry stakeholders on Tuesday.
Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, said baggage handling ranks as the second biggest source of passenger dissatisfaction, just behind flight delays. “Passengers frequently contend with bags that are short-landed, missing, lost, or damaged,” he said.
Once operational, the RFID system would allow passengers to track their luggage in real time via a mobile app. They would know whether the bag has moved from check-in to the sorting area, reached the boarding gate, or been safely loaded onto the aircraft. The technology also includes a built-in alert system to flag mismatched routing, making it far harder for a bag to end up on the wrong plane.
Achimugu illustrated the point with a simple scenario: a passenger flying from Lagos to Kano would be able to see exactly where their bag is at every stage. If it goes astray, airlines can consult a digital trail showing the last scanned location. “If you have landed in Lagos, but your bag is in Enugu, for instance, you can tell the airline specifically where your bag is,” he said. That visibility, he added, would dramatically cut the time spent investigating missing-baggage claims and force greater accountability along the handling chain.
Still, the system is not yet up and running. The NCAA is continuing consultations with airlines and other stakeholders, working through how the RFID platform will integrate with existing Passenger Service Systems and Departure Control Systems. The authority is also weighing regulatory changes that could mandate baggage automation.
Airlines have thrown their weight behind the initiative, but they have raised questions about the cost of upgrading equipment, the risk of human error, and the need for adequate sorting infrastructure at airports. The contractor, Aviation 360 Solutions, explained that the system would rely on multiple scanning points at sorting areas and loading zones to create a continuous digital record of each bag’s movement.
Achimugu stressed that the NCAA does not own airport infrastructure, making collaboration with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, airlines, and ground handlers essential to the project’s success.
Implementation is expected to begin later this year, with the authority hoping to eliminate one of the most common frustrations air travellers face.