Latest orders underline trend towards whole-body imaging

The Nigerian government has acted to boost checkpoint security at international airports in the country, as a major rollout of full-body imaging systems began at selected US airports.

Rapiscan Systems stated in late February that "multiple" Secure 1000 scanners are to be deployed at international airports in Nigeria, joining systems from OD Security that are already in use at main hub Lagos; Port Harcourt; Kano; and Abuja.

The systems are expected to be used to screen passengers en route to the US and other undisclosed destinations.

The Nigerian Federal Executive Council confirmed the government's intention to deploy advanced imaging systems at airports in the country at the beginning of February, following the attempt to blow up Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on 25 December 2009. The alleged bomber is understood to have moved undetected through airport security at Lagos and boarded a flight to Amsterdam Schiphol.

A backscatter x-ray system, the Secure 1000 uses proprietary image processing software to detect metallic and non-metallic objects concealed beneath clothing. When using the system, a passenger faces the unit while front and back scans are made. A computer-generated image is generated within 15 seconds.