The Nigerian government is set to install facial recognition technology at major airports to improve security and detect imposters. The move aligns with other developed countries that have deployed facial recognition technology to boost security at their airports. The technology offers significant advantages over manual, human-based security measures, and can be used for one-to-one verification at security checkpoints, real-time watchlist alerting to identify persons of interest, and touchless access control to control access to specific locations within an airport. The deployment of this technology is expected to improve security profiling and provide a higher level of security and safety measures at the airports. However, concerns have been raised about the responsible use and storage of the data captured. Coordination, intelligence, and corporation among parties are essential for effective security.
Facial Recognition Cameras to be Installed at Major Airports in Nigeria
The Nigerian government has announced that it will be implementing facial recognition technology at major airports in the country soon. According to Prince Clem Agba, the minister of state for budget and national planning, these cameras will be used to detect impostors and enhance security measures around the airports. This move will put Nigeria in line with other developed countries that have already deployed facial recognition cameras to improve security in airports.
Facial Recognition Cameras Around the Globe
Facial recognition technology and biometric technology have been priorities for the airport industry globally for many years. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting staffing shortages at airports, the need for such technology has become even more urgent. For example, in the US, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been quietly testing facial recognition technology for passenger screening at 16 major airports. The US Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) has also deployed this technology to 32 airports for travellers leaving the US and all airports for travellers entering the country.
The United Kingdom has been using this technology for more than a decade for domestic traveller security screening. More recently, British Airways introduced self-boarding gates and is rolling out facial recognition technology for its international travellers.
Advantages of Facial Recognition Cameras
Facial recognition technology offers significant advantages over manual, human-based security measures. One-to-one verification is one of the most common use cases for this technology. Security checkpoints within airports around the globe use these cameras. Passengers step up to the travel document checker kiosk and stick their ID into a machine. Then, they look into a camera for up to five seconds and the machine compares their live photo to the one it sees on their ID.
Passenger boarding is another use case where facial recognition technology can be leveraged to improve security, passenger safety, and the overall travel experience. With the installation of these cameras, Nigeria’s major airports will be able to enhance their security measures and keep up with global best practices.
Advanced Security Measures for Airports with Facial Recognition Cameras
Facial recognition technology has become a crucial component of airport security around the world. Real-time watchlist alerting and touchless access control are two categories of facial recognition used to enhance security measures within airports. The use of these cameras can create a layered approach to physical security strategies, protecting airport entrances, sensitive interior areas, and the airport’s perimeter.
Real-time Watchlist Alerting
Real-time watchlist alerting helps airports monitor their facilities to identify persons of interest in real-time for anyone on a watchlist. Live facial recognition software can be embedded within an airport’s existing camera infrastructure, enabling security teams to rapidly respond to threats while protecting the privacy of bystanders.
Touchless Access Control
Touchless access control is another category of facial recognition technology that uses facial recognition to control access to specific locations within an airport. For example, airports can use facial recognition to identify authorized employees who are given access into sensitive areas of the airport such as aircraft hangers, fuel storage, specialized equipment, and the runways themselves.
Proposed Facial Recognition Cameras in Nigerian Airports
The Nigerian government has announced that it will soon commence the installation of facial recognition technology at major airports in Nigeria. Seyi Adewale, CEO of Mainstream Cargo Limited, described the proposed installation of facial recognition gadgets as a positive development, a more advanced, and higher level of security and safety measures at the airports.
With the installation of facial recognition cameras, Nigerian airports can improve their security measures and keep up with global best practices. This would help create a layered approach to physical security strategies, protecting airport entrances, sensitive interior areas, and the airport’s perimeter.
Speedy Security Screening Services and Enhanced Data Capture
The installation of facial recognition cameras would mean speedy security screening services, as fingerprinting and other human-to-human contacts would be reduced. According to Adewale, the cameras would also enhance database capture of flying citizens, but the data captured must be used responsibly and stored/ secured well.
The Role of Cooperation and Intelligence
Olumide Ohunayo, an aviation analyst, stated that the installation of facial recognition cameras would be a welcome development and a good technology that would improve security profiling. However, he emphasized that security is only effective when parties share information, intelligence and work jointly with other organizations. Without cooperation, intelligence, and coordination, organizations may start working against each other and sabotage the entire process of security.
Nigeria to Join Other Developed Countries in Deploying Facial Recognition Technology at Airports
The Nigerian federal government has announced plans to install facial recognition technology at major airports in the country to improve security and detect imposters. Prince Clem Agba, the minister of state for budget and national planning, revealed that the airports would soon be operating automatic security measures that incorporate facial recognition technology.
By deploying facial recognition cameras at airports, Nigeria is joining other developed countries that have already installed such technology to boost security. Globally, biometric technology and real-time facial recognition were already priorities for the airport industry even before the COVID-19 pandemic put the brakes on air travel.
Facial Recognition Technology in Other Countries
In the United States, staffing shortages have led to long queues at airports, prompting the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to quietly test facial recognition technology for passenger screening at 16 major airports. The US Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) has already deployed facial recognition technology to 32 airports for travellers leaving the US and all airports for travellers entering the country.
The United Kingdom has been using facial recognition technology for more than a decade for domestic traveller security screening. Recently, British Airways introduced self-boarding gates and rolled out facial recognition technology for its international travellers.
Features of Facial Recognition Cameras
Facial recognition technology offers significant advantages over manual, human-based security measures in different types of use cases. One-to-one verification is being typically used at security checkpoints within airports worldwide. Passengers insert their ID into a machine at a travel document checker kiosk, then look into a camera for up to five seconds while the machine compares their live photo to the one on their ID.
Real-time watchlist alerting helps airports monitor their facilities to identify persons of interest in real-time for anyone on a watchlist. Live facial recognition software can be embedded within an airport’s existing camera infrastructure, enabling security teams to rapidly respond to threats while protecting the privacy of bystanders.
Touchless access control is another category of facial recognition technology that uses facial recognition to control access to specific locations within an airport. For example, airports can use facial recognition to identify authorized employees who are given access to sensitive areas of the airport such as aircraft hangers, fuel storage, specialized equipment, and the runways themselves.
Benefits of Facial Recognition Technology at Nigerian Airports
The installation of facial recognition cameras at major airports in Nigeria would help create a layered approach to physical security strategies, protecting airport entrances, sensitive interior areas, and the airport’s perimeter. Seyi Adewale, CEO of Mainstream Cargo Limited, described the proposed installation of facial recognition gadgets as a positive development, a more advanced, and higher level of security and safety measures at the airports.
Facial recognition cameras would also mean speedy security screening services, as fingerprinting and other human-to-human contacts would be reduced. Olumide Ohunayo, an aviation analyst, stated that the installation of facial recognition cameras would be a welcome development and a good technology that would improve security profiling. However, he emphasized that security is only effective when parties share information, intelligence and work jointly with other organizations. Without cooperation, intelligence, and coordination, organizations may start working against each other and sabotage the entire process of security.
The Nigerian federal government has announced that it will soon begin installing facial recognition technology at major airports in the country. This technology will help improve security around the airports and easily detect impostors. This move aligns Nigeria with other developed countries that have deployed facial recognition technology to boost security at their airports.
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