FAAN Introduces Biometric V-Pass for Domestic Flights, Travelers to Verify Identity with Facial Recognition

• The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has unveiled V-Pass, a new biometric identity verification system that will allow domestic air travelers to use facial recognition instead of physical ID cards.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced plans to roll out V-Pass, a biometric identity verification system designed to make domestic air travel faster, safer, and more convenient for passengers across the country.

The new technology will enable travellers to verify their identities using facial recognition, significantly reducing reliance on physical identification documents during airport screening and boarding.

FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, disclosed that the authority is partnering with Verxid Technologies Limited to deploy the digital identity platform as part of its broader airport modernization programme.

According to Agbebire, the implementation strategy was reviewed during a high-level meeting between FAAN and Verxid, where both parties discussed deployment timelines, security protocols, and measures aimed at improving the overall passenger experience.

Speaking on the initiative, FAAN’s Director of Commercial and Business Development, Adebola Agunbiade, said V-Pass reflects the agency’s commitment to leveraging technology to strengthen aviation security while making airport processes more efficient.

Under the new system, Nigerian passengers will complete a one-time registration using their National Identification Number (NIN) alongside facial biometric capture, while foreign travellers will register using their international passports through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and biometric authentication.

Once enrolled, passengers will receive a secure digital identity that will be verified at multiple checkpoints inside the airport.

The system will authenticate travellers before they enter restricted airport areas and again before boarding their flights, helping to prevent impersonation, unauthorized access, and identity fraud.

To make the process seamless, FAAN said passengers will be able to register through self-service kiosks or receive assistance from airport officials during the rollout phase.

The authority also plans to introduce electronic gates (E-Gates) that will automatically verify passengers and grant access to controlled areas, reducing queues and improving passenger movement through airport terminals.

According to the developers, first-time registration will take approximately one minute, while subsequent biometric verification is expected to be completed in less than 30 seconds.

Beyond passenger verification, V-Pass will provide airlines with secure digital access to flight schedules, passenger manifests, and boarding statistics, while FAAN will utilize a Central Management System to monitor passenger movement, generate operational analytics, and integrate with other airport technologies in the future.

FAAN assured passengers that data privacy remains a top priority.

The authority stated that the platform fully complies with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) and confirmed that passengers’ biometric information will not be stored on registration kiosks or handheld verification devices.

Ahead of the nationwide rollout, FAAN and Verxid will embark on a comprehensive public awareness campaign across television, radio, social media, airport announcements, and airline communication channels to educate travellers on how the system works.

The rollout will also include a live Proof of Concept demonstration and technical site assessments before full deployment.

FAAN said the introduction of V-Pass forms part of its ongoing digital transformation strategy aimed at creating a smarter, safer, and more efficient airport experience for millions of domestic air travellers in Nigeria.