Nigeria to roll out RFID baggage tracking to curb lost, delayed luggage

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced plans to introduce Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) baggage tracking technology across domestic and international terminals.

The development according to a statement seen from NCAA on Wednesday aimed to end the growing problem of delayed and missing luggage for air travellers.

In the statement, the NCAA said the new RFID-enabled system will replace the current barcode-based framework and provide “real-time, non-line-of-sight (NLOS) visibility of checked luggage from the point of check-in to final reclaim” for both airlines and passengers.

Unlike barcodes, which require direct line-of-sight scanning, RFID tags can be read automatically at multiple points along the baggage journey, generating live data on a bag’s location from check-in through to arrival.

The disclosure was made by the NCAA’s Director, Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, during a stakeholder engagement forum in Lagos on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

Achimugu described the upgrade as “critical to improving baggage traceability, reducing mishandling, strengthening accountability, and enhancing the overall passenger experience,” noting that barcode systems have struggled to support real-time tracking at scale.

He added that for years, “issues of baggage – short-landed, missing, lost, or destroyed have remained one of the biggest complaints in the industry; after flight delays,” underscoring the urgency of the reform.

The NCAA tied the move to international best practice, stating that the introduction of RFID “aligns with IATA Resolution 753 which mandates tracking of baggage at key point and will play a stronger role in improving baggage handling and passenger confidence.”

Once implemented, the system is expected to give Nigerian airports and carriers a more robust, data-driven way to monitor bags, reduce losses, and improve trust in air travel.