The Federal Government has announced plans to install facial‑recognition technology at major airports across the federation. The Honourable Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, revealed the initiative on Wednesday while hosting Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria Matsunoya Kazuyoshi and a delegation from NEC Corporation, an information‑technology company based in Abuja. He explained that the technology, to be deployed through grant agreements between the Nigerian and Japanese governments, will easily detect impostors and enhance airport security. Agba called for the cooperation of all relevant stakeholders, noting that facial‑recognition systems have proven highly effective worldwide in securing airports.
According to a statement signed by Finance Ministry Information Officer Olude Omolade, the minister pledged to implement the system first at Lagos and Abuja international airports as a pilot phase, before extending the project to Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Kano airports. “I am happy that the series of meetings, which began in January this year in Tokyo on this project aimed at recognising the faces of persons who pass through our international airports, have started to yield results,” Agba said. “We believe this will further strengthen the security of our people and the country as a whole. The project was conceived in view of several security concerns and the need to nip these growing concerns in the bud.” He added that, as a prerequisite for installation, he would lead the ambassador and the NEC team on a site‑survey visit to Lagos and Abuja airports for necessary assessments.
In his welcome address, Japanese Ambassador Matsunoya Kazuyoshi emphasized that advanced technology would reduce security threats in and around Nigeria’s airports. He noted that the initiative would bolster the country’s security architecture and attract more investment across various sectors of the Nigerian economy, citing a similar project in Nairobi, Kenya, which transformed Kenya’s security narrative. The ambassador described the security solution as operating through image‑capturing techniques, Neo Face Watch logging, live view, widgets and dashboards, face search, image management, and basic configuration. “Overall, we want to holistically support the Nigerian Government to improve security, social cohesion, and promote better migration management through the use of technology and the installation of CCTV cameras at strategic locations,” he added.
Stakeholders present at the meeting included officials from the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Immigration Service, and the Nigerian Police Force.
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