Nigeria has officially enrolled in the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Public Key Directory (PKD) and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), as announced by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, through Mr. Babatunde Alao on Thursday in Abuja.
This initiative aims to boost the global ranking of Nigeria’s international passport, facilitate smoother travel, and enhance internal security.
Tunji-Ojo, along with Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Kemi Nandap, participated in the Import Ceremony of the Country Signing Certificate Authority (CSCA) in Montreal, Canada, led by ICAO officials.
The minister stated that this development is part of the government’s effort to modernize border control systems and reduce waiting times at airports and other entry points globally.
“Our government is focused on increasing efficiency and improving the overall travel experience for both Nigerians and international visitors,” Tunji-Ojo remarked. “With our emphasis on Border Governance and Management, the era of prolonged waits and manual verifications at airports is coming to an end.”
He highlighted that President Bola Tinubu is continuously seeking ways to promote growth and development in the country. “The PKI/PKD initiative is another step towards improving our global ranking and business environment,” he added.
The new system is anticipated to positively impact the economy, tourism, and national security. Tunji-Ojo noted that it will enhance inter-agency collaboration, particularly between the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and NIS.
Juan Salazar, Secretary-General of ICAO, explained that the PKD will facilitate the sharing of authentic travel documents among member states globally. He emphasized the importance of national and international cooperation in the verification and authentication process of passport and travel document data.
Regarding NIS’s preparedness, Nandap confirmed that the necessary infrastructure for the new technology is already in place as full implementation begins. “The PKD/PKI will be a transformative change for us,” she said. “We are partnering with IATA to train our staff on the new API/PNR technology.”
The PKD, managed by ICAO, enables countries to verify the authenticity of e-passports and other travel documents at border crossings. PKI ensures secure communication, data integrity, and document authentication through digital certificates and public-private key pairs.
NAN reports that the ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD) serves as a central repository for exchanging information needed to authenticate electronic Machine Readable Travel Documents (eMRTDs), including ePassports, electronic ID cards, and visible digital seals.