Passengers travelling through Nigerian airports may soon have a better way of locating their checked luggage, as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority prepares to introduce RFID technology for baggage tracking.
The new system is expected to give travellers access to information about their bags throughout the journey, from the moment they are checked in until they reach their destination.
The NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, announced the planned rollout in a statement posted on his official X handle on Tuesday.
Achimugu said the regulator had held talks with domestic airlines, aviation service providers and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria in Lagos to work out the details for adopting RFID bag tags.
The technology is expected to reduce incidents involving bags sent to the wrong destination or left behind during flights. It will also assist airlines and airport operators in resolving baggage related complaints more efficiently.
“This automation technology means that air passengers can track the location of their bags from check-in to arrival at destination, real time,” Achimugu said.
He explained that although RFID baggage identification is already being used internationally, its planned deployment would mark Nigeria’s first adoption of the technology in the aviation sector.
“Although not novel globally, this is coming to Nigeria for the first time, and its proper implementation would guarantee greater efficiency in baggage handling, complaints resolution, and passenger satisfaction,” he said.
The NCAA official said the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had given approval for relevant authorities to examine the technology and assess how it could be introduced into the Nigerian aviation system.
Stakeholders subsequently reviewed the possible difficulties that could arise during implementation before reaching an agreement to proceed with the project.
Achimugu described the planned deployment as an important development for the country’s aviation industry.
“Due to a listening minister, a proactive DGCA, and a vibrant MD FAAN, we are about to witness a new era in civil aviation in Nigeria,” he said.
The NCAA said additional information on when and how the RFID baggage tracking system will become operational would be released subsequently.
