AI-powered machines to detect explosives, narcotics, drugs deployed by FAAN at Lagos airport

…Expands e-gate system

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is ushering in a new era of security and efficiency at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, with the deployment of advanced screening technologies, e-gate systems, and a renewed inter-agency collaboration framework aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s aviation environment.

The agency has deployed a state-of-the-art security screening system, the Orion 928DX, described as one of the most advanced technologies in global aviation security.

The highly sophisticated equipment combines artificial intelligence with real-time threat detection capabilities, is already redefining the way baggage is screened at the country’s busiest airport.

These machines it is a higher upgrade of the old analogue. This comes with crystal-clear digital displays.

Head of ICT at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Chima Ogechukwu-Juliet, while conducting journalists to inspection of the facility disclosed that the machines were installed just two months ago.

He added that the Orion 928DX boasts a range of smart features designed to detect narcotics, explosives, organic materials, and undeclared currency with astonishing accuracy.

At the heart of its capability is the SP4 — Spectrum 4 Color Imaging — which enhances visual clarity and speeds up the detection process. As luggage passes through the machine, it performs real-time scanning, quickly flagging suspicious content and highlighting it clearly on screen.

The system shows you exactly where the threat is located. With narcotics and explosives, it instantly detects, targets, and provides a clear image using its Narscan technology.

Unlike earlier systems that could detect one threat at a time, the Orion 928DX handles simultaneous scans, detecting both explosives and narcotics in real time.

Its integrated algorithm also allows it to adapt and absorb future upgrades, a feature many older systems lack. “This machine can evolve with new technologies. It’s designed to grow,” she said.

The system also includes a dual-mode auto-set feature for detecting organic substances, such as agricultural products, often concealed in luggage.

It identifies them through two scanning modes, range and interactive, enabling security personnel to isolate specific pixels and trace their origins within the bag.

It even goes a step further by detecting currency when travelers carry more than permitted. “It won’t tell you it’s naira, but it will highlight the excess. You then investigate and confirm the currency type,” she added.

Since installation, the airport has trained 12 staff members, a mix of users and technical support personnel, through a rigorous programme facilitated by the equipment manufacturer in the UK. “

It was a train-the-trainer approach. Now we continue training and retraining our teams to ensure optimal performance,” she said.

MMA currently operates six Orion 928DX machines and four Orion 927DX systems, with plans to receive four more units in the coming weeks.

According to Ogechukwu-Juliet, the upgrade is also ongoing at other international airports across the country, including Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

With the new machines in place, MMA is rethinking the need for manual baggage checks altogether.

“With this technology, we really don’t need to stand by a table and start opening bags. Once the system identifies a suspicious item, it gives us an exact image and location. Then, if necessary, we proceed to a secondary search, quickly and efficiently,” she explained.

Plans are also underway to set up a private screening cubicle beside the scanning area for more discreet checks, with additional monitors installed to allow other security agencies real-time access to flagged visuals.

Reflecting on the machine’s impact so far, Ogechukwu-Juliet was emphatic: “Let me put it this way, with this machine, we can dismantle the old manual search tables. That’s exactly what we’re looking at”, she noted.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Igbafe Afegbe (rtd), who now serves as FAAN’s Director of Aviation Security Services, said the latest measures are part of a wider effort to align Nigeria’s airport security protocols with international standards.

According to him, the ongoing test run of the newly introduced e-gates is already reshaping passenger experience at MMIA.

“We are trying to eliminate physical contact and unnecessary interference during travel. With this new e-gate system, passengers only need to scan their boarding passes to pass through. Without a valid pass, access is denied — and that significantly reduces touting and prevents unauthorized access,” Afegbe said.

To further enhance security operations, FAAN has also installed a new set of high-performance baggage screening machines designed to detect narcotics, undeclared currencies, and other contraband.

Afegbe disclosed that prior to these installations, existing equipment fell short in detecting certain prohibited items. With the acquisition of modern machines, FAAN is also facilitating capacity building across various agencies including the NDLEA, DSS, Immigration, Quarantine and Customs.

“We are now installing multiple monitors on each screening machine, so every agency has access to a dedicated screen.

Speaking on the unique offerings of the unit, Rose Annette Akinlabi, Head of FAAN’s Protocol Unit, said the lounge, while not a full VIP facility, serves as a transitional holding point for clients ahead of immigration processing.

“It’s a functional lounge, not your typical luxury setting. It’s primarily a holding area where we help our clients put their travel documents in order before taking them for passport stamping,” Akinlabi explained.

The unit manages a variety of clients through three distinct service streams; corporate registration, one-off facilitation, and a flexible sit-in option. According to her, FAAN is the only government-authorised body to offer protocol services in the airport terminal for private clients.

“Foreign Affairs handles government officials and diplomatic delegations, but FAAN oversees protocol services for registered private companies, operating in a Public-Private Partnership model,” she said.

“These companies apply, undergo screening, and provide CAC documentation and tax clearance to prove legitimacy. We don’t allow individuals to register under this model for security reasons.”

Companies that successfully complete the vetting process gain access to FAAN’s wallet-based platform, allowing them to book services across the five major international airports in Nigeria.

Beyond official partnerships, the unit also caters to spontaneous needs through a one-off service. “We get calls from outside the country, people wanting to verify if the companies they’re dealing with here are genuine. If they pass our checks, we assist them on that day and that’s it, it’s a one-time service,” she noted.

“There’s also a “sit-in” service for travelers who prefer to wait in a relaxed space without undergoing full facilitation. “Some people want to wait quietly, especially when they’re traveling with friends or family and don’t want to proceed into the terminal right away,” Akinlabi said. “They can use the sit-in space to rest, work on their laptops, or enjoy refreshments while waiting for their flight”, she added.

She emphasised that the sit-in service is open to the public, though it does not include assistance with immigration formalities. “Anyone can walk in, as long as your check-in is verified and your flight is confirmed. For N10,000, we provide tea, biscuits, assorted drinks, and a comfortable waiting space,” she added. Children may be exempted from payment depending on their age.

According to Akinlabi, the lounge has seen a surge in patronage due to its flexible and affordable services. “The demand has been encouraging. While it’s a commercial service, we also cater to the aged and the sick, those people are handled through another section of our department and receive free assistance,” she said.

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