The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has phased out physical luggage screening at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
This follows the installation of advanced Rapiscan screening
machines and surveillance systems at key checkpoints within both the old and
new terminals.
The new technology is aimed at streamlining security
processes and reducing pre-flight check-in time.
According to a report by The Nation, FAAN has installed four
high-capacity scanning machines at MMIA, which are capable of detecting illicit
drugs, concealed currency, and other prohibited items.
Also, physical searches will now be conducted only when
suspicious items are flagged by the Rapiscan systems.
To support the enhanced security framework, the publication
said surveillance monitors are being installed for use by border control
agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs
Service (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the National
Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS).
The report said the monitors will be linked to a central
control system to ensure accountability, with personnel identities displayed
for transparency, and as part of the modernisation, the long-standing manual
search table at the terminal entrance will be dismantled this week to
significantly improve passenger flow.
INTRODUCTION OF ORION
928DX SCANNERS
The newly deployed Orion 928DX, regarded as one of the most
advanced security systems in global aviation, is a key component of FAAN’s
broader effort to modernise airport security with e-gates and enhanced
inter-agency collaboration.
The system integrates artificial intelligence with real-time
threat detection and is redefining baggage screening at Nigeria’s busiest
airport.
The scanner is equipped with crystal-clear digital displays
and smart features designed to detect narcotics, explosives, organic materials,
and undeclared currency with high accuracy.
Speaking in an interview, Juliet Chima–Ogechukwu, FAAN’s
head of information and communication technology (ICT) at the Lagos
international airport, confirmed that personnel have been trained in the use of
the new facilities to enhance security at the terminal.
“As luggage passes through the machine, it performs
real-time scanning, quickly flagging suspicious content and highlighting it
clearly on screen,” she said.
Chima–Ogechukwu noted that unlike older systems, which could
detect only one threat at a time, the Orion 928DX can simultaneously scan for
explosives and narcotics.
She added that the scanner also features a dual-mode
auto-set function for detecting organic substances, such as concealed
agricultural products, and can identify excess currency beyond permitted travel
limits.
According to the ICT head, the scanner identifies them
through two scanning modes, range and interactive, enabling security personnel
to isolate specific pixels and trace their origins within the bag.
Chima-Ogechukwu further disclosed that MMIA currently
operates six Orion 928DX machines and four Orion 927DX systems, with plans to
acquire four more units in the coming weeks.
She added that similar upgrades are ongoing at Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and other major airports across the
country.
“With this technology, we really don’t need to stand by a
table and start opening bags. Once the system identifies a suspicious item, it
gives us an exact image and location. Then, if necessary, we proceed to a
secondary search, quickly and efficiently,” she said.
The ICT head further said FAAN is also setting up a private
screening cubicle near the scanning area for discreet checks, with additional
monitors for real-time access by security agencies.
‘WE’RE TRYING TO
ELIMINATE PHYSICAL CONTACT DURING TRAVEL’
Also speaking, Albert Afegbai, FAAN’s director of aviation
security services, said collaboration is being strengthened among security
agencies to support the new security architecture.
Afegbai revealed that the ongoing test run of newly
introduced electronic gates (E-gates) at MMIA will significantly enhance
passenger experience.
“We are trying to eliminate physical contact and unnecessary
interference during travel,” Afegbai said.
“With this new e-gate system, passengers only need to scan
their boarding passes to pass through. Without a valid pass, access is denied —
and that significantly reduces touting and prevents unauthorised access.”
He also noted that FAAN has installed additional
high-performance baggage screening machines to detect contraband more
effectively.
Afegbai said prior to the installations, existing equipment
fell short in detecting certain prohibited items.
“We are now installing multiple monitors on each screening
machine, so every agency has access to a dedicated screen,” he added.
On December 20, 2024, Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation
and aerospace development, inaugurated an E-gate installed by FAAN at the
departure wing of the Lagos airport.
According to the authority, the E-gate was installed to
enhance passenger comfort, reflecting the minister’s commitment to improving
Nigeria’s aviation sector and delivering a better travel experience.
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