- FAAN shared that it has started deploying AI-powered baggage scanners at the Lagos airport to enhance security
- According to the agency’s director of security services, manual search tables would be removed to curb corruption
- The AI-powered security systems being deployed include Orion 928DX machines that would boost threat detection and cut passenger wait time
In what is shaping to be a significant leap toward modernising airport security and processes, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has begun deploying state-of-the-art AI-powered screening systems at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. This move is aimed at eliminating the long-standing practice of manual baggage searches and boosting operational efficiency across Nigeria’s busiest airport.
The initiative forms part of a broader digital transformation agenda targeted at enhancing passenger experience, improving threat detection, and minimizing physical contact during screening processes.
According to FAAN’s Director of Aviation Security Services, Afegbai Igbafe, once the installations are completed, all traditional customs tables at the checkpoint will be removed permanently.
“The tables you see today will be history. Passengers will no longer have physical contact with officers unless absolutely necessary. If the AI system flags a bag, the passenger will be escorted to a designated screening area monitored by CCTV. This ensures transparency and eliminates opportunities for exploitation,” Igbafe enthusiastically told journalists recently.
The new system includes six monitors, each assigned to relevant agencies such as Customs, NDLEA, Quarantine, and the DSS, to enable simultaneous remote screening of luggage. The AI system is programmed to detect specific items and alert the appropriate authorities in real time.
Officials also disclosed that comprehensive training will be provided to security personnel to maximise the new system’s capabilities, particularly in detecting drugs and hazardous materials.
At the heart of this transformation is the Orion 928DX scanner, a high-performance dual-view X-ray machine designed to detect organic materials and threats with exceptional accuracy.
Chima Oge, Head of ICT at MMIA, explained that the scanner features both range and interactive modes, enabling operators to conduct more precise and efficient assessments of luggage contents.
Reservations regarding AI-powered security systems
However, not everyone is fully convinced of the new system's efficacy. Retired Group Captain and aviation security analyst John Ojikutu welcomed the innovation but cautioned against over-reliance on technology.
He emphasised that human operators remain central to the system’s effectiveness, noting that similar equipment previously donated by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had failed due to poor maintenance and oversight.
“What we need is a combination of cutting-edge technology and rigourous human oversight. Without trained professionals to interpret results and enforce regulations, these machines could end up as expensive furniture,” Ojikutu advised.
FAAN pledges to tackle touting, urges passenger patience during flight delays
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had urged passengers to exercise patience in the face of flight delays and cancellations while maintaining proper conduct at airports during holidays.
The airport authority further reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating touting at airports, despite facing opposition.
