Lagos Airport goes high-tech as FAAN scraps manual luggage check ins
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has officially phased out manual luggage screening at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. This sweeping upgrade comes on the heels of the deployment of cutting-edge Rapiscan and Orion 928DX scanning systems — technology designed to streamline operations, reduce congestion, and boost security precision at the country’s busiest aviation hub.
According to reports by The Nation, FAAN has installed four high-capacity Rapiscan machines capable of detecting hidden contraband including illicit drugs, excess cash, and prohibited agricultural goods. These systems, located at key checkpoints in both the old and new terminals, will now flag suspicious items for further inspection, eliminating the need for routine physical searches.
As part of the broader modernisation drive, a central surveillance command system is being rolled out to support real-time monitoring by key border control agencies — including Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the National Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS). Personnel identities will be displayed on monitors for transparency, and the long-standing manual luggage inspection tables will be dismantled this week to further improve passenger flow.
At the core of this transformation is the Orion 928DX — one of the most advanced baggage screening systems in global aviation. Fitted with AI-driven threat detection and ultra-clear digital displays, the scanner can simultaneously detect explosives, narcotics, organic material, and undeclared currency with exceptional accuracy.
Juliet Chima-Ogechukwu, FAAN’s Head of ICT at MMIA, highlighted the machine’s dual-mode functionality in an interview. “Unlike the older systems that flagged only one type of threat at a time, the 928DX can detect multiple threats simultaneously,” she explained. “It allows us to isolate and trace suspicious items to exact locations within a bag using pixel-specific analysis.”
MMIA currently operates six Orion 928DX machines and four slightly older Orion 927DX units, with more expected to arrive in the coming weeks. Chima-Ogechukwu also revealed plans to install private screening cubicles near the scanning zones for discreet secondary checks and provide real-time visual access for security agencies through dedicated monitors.
The airport’s upgrade extends beyond baggage screening. FAAN is currently piloting electronic gates (E-gates) that allow passengers to simply scan their boarding passes for entry, effectively reducing human interference and unauthorized access.
“We’re eliminating unnecessary physical contact during travel,” said Albert Afegbai, FAAN’s Director of Aviation Security Services. “This not only enhances the passenger experience but also curbs touting and strengthens terminal security.”
Afegbai added that each screening station will soon have multiple monitors, allowing every security agency to monitor inspections independently and in real-time. This move addresses long-standing concerns over the inefficiency of legacy equipment, which often fails to detect critical threats.
The modernization of MMIA is part of a national strategy to elevate Nigeria’s aviation standards. On December 20, 2024, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, inaugurated the E-gate system at the Lagos airport’s departure wing, reaffirming the government’s commitment to safer, faster, and more comfortable air travel.
