NCAA brings RFID baggage tracking to Nigerian airports, ending lost luggage era
By Aboki Forex —
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is introducing RFID baggage tracking across Nigerian airports, allowing passengers to monitor their checked luggage in real time. The plan was announced by Michael Achimugu, NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, in a statement on his official X account on Tuesday.
The technology is expected to improve baggage handling and address long-standing problems such as misrouted and short-landed bags. It will also make it easier for passengers and airlines to resolve baggage-related complaints.
What the NCAA says
Achimugu said the NCAA met with domestic airlines, other service providers and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in Lagos to finalise plans for the migration to RFID baggage tagging.
“Today, in Lagos, the NCAA met with domestic airlines, other service providers, and FAAN, to finalise plans to migrate to RFID bag tagging,” he said.
“This automation technology means that air passengers can track the location of their bags from check-in to arrival at destination, real time.”
“We are going to resolve the issue of misrouted bags, shortlanded bag, etc.”
Achimugu said the technology, already used in other parts of the world, would mark its first deployment in Nigeria. Proper implementation, he added, would improve baggage-handling efficiency, strengthen the resolution of complaints and enhance passenger satisfaction.
He also said the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had approved plans for relevant agencies to review the innovation and report back.
Other airport tech projects
The RFID initiative comes as Nigerian aviation agencies pursue other technology-driven projects. FAAN is rolling out V-Pass, a biometric identity verification system developed with M/S Verxid Technologies Limited to make domestic air travel faster and safer.
Nigerian passengers will register with their National Identification Number (NIN) and facial biometric capture. Foreign passengers will enrol using international passports through OCR and biometric authentication.
The system will verify passengers before they enter restricted areas and again before boarding. E-Gates are expected to reduce queues and improve passenger flow. FAAN said passenger data will not be stored on kiosks or handheld devices, and that the system complies with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
FAAN and Verxid plan a nationwide sensitisation campaign, a live Proof of Concept demonstration and a technical site assessment before full rollout.
Cargo operations are also getting a technology upgrade. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is preparing to deploy cargo scanners at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The scanners have been installed at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) warehouses at the airport.
Customs officers completed specialised image analysis training in June ahead of the deployment. The technology is expected to reduce cargo inspection times and improve the detection of prohibited and undeclared goods.
The scanners are awaiting final regulatory approval. The NCS has also recommended traffic management officers and CCTV cameras around the scanning areas as part of the project.
What it means for travellers
For Nigerian air passengers, the RFID baggage system promises fewer lost bags and quicker complaint resolution. For airlines and ground handlers, it means more efficient baggage operations and better customer service. The success of the programme will depend on how well the NCAA, FAAN and domestic airlines implement it across the country.