The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) plans to introduce RFID baggage tracking across Nigerian airports, allowing passengers to monitor their checked luggage in real time. The development was disclosed by Michael Achimugu, NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, in a statement on his official X account.

Achimugu said the technology is expected to improve baggage handling and address recurring issues, including misrouted and short-landed bags, while making it easier for passengers and airlines to resolve baggage-related complaints. He said the NCAA had met with domestic airlines, other aviation service providers and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in Lagos to finalise plans for the migration to RFID tagging.

Scanners Already Installed

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) scanners have already been installed at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) warehouses at the airport, according to the NCAA statement. Customs officers have completed specialised image analysis training ahead of the deployment, and the scanners are awaiting final regulatory approval, with the Nigeria Customs Service recommending additional traffic management officers and CCTV coverage around the scanning areas.

Achimugu said the RFID technology, already in use in other parts of the world, would mark its first deployment in Nigeria. The system typically works by embedding a chip in baggage tags that can be scanned remotely at multiple points through an airport's handling chain, offering more reliable tracking than the barcode tags currently used by most Nigerian carriers.

Part of a Wider Push

The initiative adds to a series of technology and process upgrades the NCAA has pursued in 2026 alongside FAAN and the country's ground handling companies, as the regulator looks to reduce baggage mishandling complaints that have been a persistent source of passenger friction at Nigeria's busiest airports. The NCAA has not given a firm timeline for the technology's full rollout beyond Lagos.