Achimugu
In a bid to tackle the rising cases of delayed and missing luggage, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is set to make Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) baggage tracking technology compulsory at all domestic and international airports in Nigeria.
The automated system will replace the existing barcode-based process and give both airlines and passengers real-time, non-line-of-sight visibility of checked bags from check-in to final collection.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement forum on Tuesday, Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, said baggage complaints rank second only to flight delays and cancellations among travelers’ frustrations.
“For many years now, one of the biggest complaints in the industry has been that of baggage, it’s either passengers’ bags have been short-landed, missing, lost, or destroyed,” Achimugu said.
“After delayed flights, baggage issues are the biggest problem. So what we’ve decided to do is improve the system by automating it. The technology we are looking to use now is RFID to replace the current technology being used.”
Under the current barcode system, ground handlers must manually scan each paper tag with a laser. If a tag is twisted, torn, dirty, or obscured, the scanner fails. RFID tags solve this by embedding a tiny microchip and antenna that transmit location data via radio waves. Readers can scan multiple bags at once through containers, conveyor belts, and cargo holds without direct line-of-sight.
RFID readers mounted on conveyor belts and ramp loaders will automatically flag misrouted items before they are loaded, making it nearly impossible for a bag bound for Kano to end up on a Lagos flight.
“Standard regulations allow airlines up to seven days to locate and reconcile short-landed baggage with domestic travelers. With RFID tracking, missing or misrouted luggage can be identified and located instantly,” the NCAA spokesman explained.
A key part of the rollout is a dedicated mobile application that puts tracking information directly in passengers’ hands. Through the app, travelers will be able to monitor their bag’s movement in real time — from entry onto the sorting belt, to loading at the foot of the aircraft, to stowage in the cargo hold, and finally to arrival at the carousel.
“Even while you have boarded, you can check to be sure that your bag is on that flight,” Achimugu said, stressing: “And if for any unforeseen circumstance your bag has not landed with you, you can tell even without complaining to the airline where your bag is. So when you call to complain, you can tell them specifically, ‘I’ve landed in Lagos, but my bag is in Enugu.’”
The NCAA is driving the regulatory framework in collaboration with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which owns the airport infrastructure. The Authority is reviewing civil aviation regulations to make automated RFID tracking mandatory for all airlines operating in Nigerian airspace.
Integration with airline operating systems is already underway. The contract is expected to be finalized shortly, with full operations targeted to begin before the end of the year.
