BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
A major transformation is underway at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, with the deployment of a state-of-the-art security screening system, the Orion 928DX, described as one of the most advanced technologies in global aviation security.
The sophisticated machine, which combines artificial intelligence with real-time threat detection capabilities, is already redefining the way baggage is screened at the country’s busiest airport.
Chima Ogechukwu-Juliet, Head of ICT at MMIA, who introduced the new technology during a recent facility tour, expressed unreserved confidence in its transformative power.
“This is an Orion 928DX. It is a sophisticated screening machine. Comparing it with the old machines is like comparing an analog television with the latest crystal-clear digital displays. That’s the difference,” she explained, just as she described the upgrade as a significant leap forward.
Installed just two months ago, 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.
“You don’t just get an alert, 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.
FAAN is also 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.
Speaking on the developments, 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 explained.
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 revealed 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.
“The idea is that if something suspicious is detected, AVSEC will immediately alert the relevant agency, and the passenger or baggage in question will be taken to a designated area for further checks. Everything will be monitored by CCTV to ensure transparency”, he explained.
For many frequent travelers, a major concern has been the persistent presence of secondary table checks, often described as opportunities for harassment and extortion.
Afegbe reassured the public that with the rollout of this technology, such tables will soon be obsolete.
“Once the system is fully operational, there will be no need for those tables. Everything will be monitored digitally. If further inspection is required, it will be done in a designated room, under surveillance, and in line with global best practices,” he stated.
Afegbe further noted that, though security protocols limit the level of disclosure regarding seizures and arrests, the new screening systems have already started making significant impact in curbing trafficking and financial crimes.
“We have records. We know what has been seized. But you also understand that certain details cannot be made public due to their sensitive nature,” he said.
He noted that the upgrades at MMIA are not isolated as FAAN intends to replicate this model at other international airports across the country.
He asserted that with MMIA accounting for nearly 70 percent of revenue generated across all Nigerian airports, the focus on strengthening security and operational integrity at the facility is deliberate and strategic.
“This is our premier airport, and it must reflect our highest standards,” Afegbe said.
“Since Ms. Olubunmi Kuku became the Managing Director, more than 300 CCTV cameras have been deployed across MMIA, and more are being added to eliminate blind spots and ensure full coverage of every zone.”
He added that security improvements are not restricted to passenger areas alone.
At the baggage and cargo sections, FAAN is implementing similar screening systems to monitor goods destined for outbound flights.
The move, according to him, also aligns with FAAN’s vision to increase economic returns by enhancing operational transparency and compliance.
“Our goal is two-fold: ensure the safety of our passengers and improve revenue for FAAN and the nation. Technology is helping us achieve both,” Afegbe stated.
In another development, the authority reaffirmed its commitment to providing structured and comfortable protocol services at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, through its dedicated protocol unit under the Public Affairs Department.
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.
