The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has modernized passenger screening at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, by phasing out physical luggage checks and deploying advanced AI-powered scanning machines.
With the installation of Orion 928DX and 927DX Rapiscan systems at both the old and new terminals, passengers will now experience faster, more efficient security checks. These cutting-edge machines use artificial intelligence and real-time threat detection to identify explosives, narcotics, undeclared currency, and organic substances with high precision—minimizing the need for manual intervention.
FAAN confirmed that six Orion 928DX and four Orion 927DX units are currently operational at MMIA, with additional systems arriving soon. Physical searches will only be conducted when suspicious items are flagged, while surveillance monitors linked to a central control system allow agencies like NDLEA, Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine Services to monitor flagged luggage and respond accordingly.
FAAN’s Head of ICT, Juliet Chima-Ogechukwu, explained that personnel have been fully trained on the system, which is adaptable for future upgrades. She noted that the dual-mode detection and enhanced color imaging features significantly boost accuracy and speed.
FAAN Director of Aviation Security Services, ACP Igbafe Afegbe (retd.), added that the initiative eliminates physical contact between passengers and officers, reducing exploitation and unauthorized access. The notorious manual search table has been dismantled as part of efforts to meet ICAO standards and ease passenger experience.
The transformation also includes remodeled lounges, new e-gates for smoother boarding pass verification, and expanded surveillance integration. FAAN plans to extend these upgrades to other international airports, including Abuja.
