The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is moving to introduce Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology across Nigerian airports as part of efforts to reduce cases of delayed, missing and misrouted baggage.
The regulator said the technology would replace the current barcode-based baggage tracking system and give airlines and passengers greater visibility of checked luggage from check-in to final collection.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement forum, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said baggage-related complaints remained one of the biggest sources of passenger dissatisfaction in the aviation sector, ranking behind flight delays and cancellations.
“For many years now, one of the biggest complaints in the industry has been that of baggage. It’s either passengers’ bags have been short-landed, missing, lost, or destroyed,” Achimugu said.
He explained that RFID would automate the tracking process and reduce the limitations associated with conventional barcode tags, which require direct scanning and can become difficult to read when tags are damaged, twisted or obscured.
Unlike barcodes, RFID tags use radio-frequency signals that can be detected without direct line of sight. This allows multiple bags to be scanned automatically as they move through airport sorting systems, conveyor belts and aircraft loading areas.
The system is expected to help airlines and ground handlers identify bags that have been misrouted before they are loaded onto an aircraft, potentially reducing cases of passengers arriving at their destinations without their luggage.
Achimugu said the technology would also give passengers direct access to baggage-tracking information through a dedicated mobile application.
Passengers would be able to monitor the movement of their luggage during the journey, including whether it has entered the sorting system, reached the aircraft and been loaded for the flight.
“Even while you have boarded, you can check to be sure that your bag is on that flight,” he said.
He added that if a bag failed to arrive at the passenger’s destination, the tracking system could show its location, allowing the passenger and airline to identify where the luggage was left behind rather than relying solely on manual tracing.
The initiative is being developed in collaboration with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which is responsible for airport infrastructure, as well as airlines and other stakeholders involved in baggage handling.
The NCAA is also reviewing the relevant civil aviation regulations with a view to making automated RFID baggage tracking mandatory for airlines operating in Nigeria.
The regulator said work on integrating the system with existing airline and airport operations was ongoing, with the contract expected to be finalised ahead of a planned rollout before the end of 2026.
The move is expected to strengthen baggage accountability across Nigerian airports while providing passengers with faster access to information when luggage is delayed, misrouted or fails to arrive with them.
