The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has Introduced Rapiscan Screening Machines @ Lagos Airport to Replace Physical Process of luggage screening.
With the introduction, FAAN has phased out physical luggage screening at the Murtala Muhammed Inter- national Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
This follows the full installation of advanced Rapiscan screening machines and surveillance systems at key checkpoints within both the old and new terminals.
The new technology is aimed at streamlining security processes and reducing pre-flight check-in time.
According to a report by The Nation, FAAN has installed four high-capacity scanning machines at MMIA, which are capable other prohibited items.
Also, physical searches will now be conducted only when suspicious items are flagged by the Rapiscan systems.
To support the enhanced security framework, the publication said surveillance monitors are being installed 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 (NAQS).
The report said the monitors will be linked to a central control system to ensure accountability, with personnel identities displayed for transparency, and as part of the modernisation, the long-standing manual search table at the terminal entrance will be dismantled this week to significantly improve passenger flow.
The newly deployed Orion 928DX, regarded as one of the most advanced security systems in global aviation, is a key component of FAAN’s broader effort to modernise airport security with e-gates and enhanced interagency collaboration.
The system integrates artificial intelligence with real-time threat detection and is redefining baggage screening at Nigeria’s busiest airport.
The scanner is equipped with crystal-clear digital displays and smart features designed to detect narcotics, explosives, organic materials, and undeclared currency with high accuracy.
Speaking in an interview, Juliet Chima–Ogechukwu, FAAN’s head of information and communication technology (ICT) at the Lagos international airport, confirmed that personnel have been trained in the use of the new facilities to enhance security at the terminal.
“As luggage passes through the machine, it performs real-time scanning, quickly flagging suspicious content and highlighting it clearly on screen,” she said.
Chima–Ogechukwu noted that unlike older systems, which could detect only one threat at a time, the Orion 928DX can simultaneously scan for explosives and narcotics.
She added that the scanner also features a dual-mode auto-set function for detecting organic sub- stances, such as concealed agricultural products, and can identify excess currency beyond permitted travel limits.
According to the ICT head, the scanner identifies them through two scanning modes, range and interactive, enabling security personnel to isolate specific pixels and trace their origins within the bag.
Chima-Ogechukwu further disclosed that MMIA currently operates six Orion 928DX machines and four Orion 927DX systems, with plans to acquire four more units in the coming weeks.
Leave a Reply
Leave a Reply
