In a strategic move to streamline security processes and reduce travellers’ time spent during pre-flight check-ins, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced a major upgrade in passenger facilitation for international flights at both old and new terminals of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The latest security and screening solution is said to have phased out physical luggage screening at the MMIA, Lagos.
In the place of physical examination, FAAN has installed state-of-the-art Rapiscan Systems screening machines and surveillance systems at key checkpoints within the terminals at the airport.
The regulatory agency said the newly-acquired brand new mobile surveillance system is “to boost security operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos.”
The aviation sector regulatory agency noted the new technology was designed and deployed to streamline security processes and reduce the time spent during pre-flight check-ins.
It stated: “This is part of measures to address the security challenges at the Lagos Airport. Physical searches will now only occur when suspicious items are flagged by the Rapiscan systems, according to report.
In order to support and maximise the enhanced security architecture, surveillance monitors are being mounted 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.
It is also noted that these regulatory agencies will all be linked to a central control system to monitor operations and ensure accountability, with personnel identities displayed for transparency.
Officials confirmed that the long-standing manual search table at the terminal entrance will be dismantled this week, significantly easing the passenger flow process.
The Orion 928DX, the newly-deployed scanning technology, is regarded as one of the most advanced systems in global aviation and forms part of a broader effort by FAAN to modernise Nigeria’s airport security with e-gates and enhanced inter-agency collaboration.
