The Federal Government is set to install facial recognition technology at major Airports in Nigeria, with a focus on Lagos and Abuja International Airports in the pilot phase, before the project would be extended to Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kano Airports.

Clem Agba, Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, stated this when he hosted the Japanese Ambassador in Nigeria, Kazuyoshi Matsunaga and a team from NEC Corporation of Japan at his office, in Abuja on Monday, 20th March, 2023.

The Minister of state said the technology would be deployed to Airports through grant agreements between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Japanese Government.

The Japanese Ambassador, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, explained that the use of advanced technology like the facial recognition system would ensure that security threats are reduced in and around Nigeria Airports, strengthen the country’s security architecture and encourage more investment opportunities in different sectors of nations economy.

Kazuyoshi, called on the Nigeria Police force and the country’s Immigration Services to embrace the initiative as it would automate most of their operations and ease day to day security checks in the Airports.

Story: Elizabeth Ereke

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