Technical glitch delays baggage processing at Abuja airport

Flight operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, faced significant disruption on Monday as a technical failure in the domestic terminal’s baggage screening equipment forced a shift in standard processing procedures.

The glitch, which has impacted the speed of baggage check-in and aircraft loading, prompted an immediate operational “pivot” by airport management to prevent a total standstill of the country’s capital hub.

In a formal statement issued to passengers and stakeholders, NAIA Management confirmed that the standard automated screening workflow has been compromised.

To ensure that flights continue to operate under strict safety guidelines, authorities said they have proactively activated alternative screening procedures using available secondary equipment.

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“We understand the inconvenience and uncertainty this situation may cause,” the statement read. “Our ground teams are fully mobilized and on hand to support passengers, provide real-time updates, and prioritize flights most affected by the slowdown.”

While these contingency measures allow for continued operations, the authorities cautioned that the move to manual or secondary screening will inevitably result in longer processing times and potential delays to several scheduled departures.

The timing of this incident is particularly sensitive for the Nigerian aviation sector, which is currently under pressure to improve hub efficiency following the recent infrastructure challenges at Lagos’ MMIA.

As technical teams work alongside airport authorities to restore the automated systems, travelers are advised to arrive at the terminal well ahead of their scheduled departure times and maintain close contact with their respective airlines for status updates.

Despite the setback, NAIA Management assured the public that every effort is being made to expedite the manual process and minimize the impact on travel plans, emphasising that safety remains the non-negotiable priority during this recovery phase.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.