Nigeria has officially joined the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Public Key Directory (PKD) and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), according to a statement released on Thursday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Mr. Babatunde Alao, in Abuja.
This strategic move is intended to improve Nigeria’s international passport ranking, facilitate smoother travel, and strengthen internal security, as explained by the Minister.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo, accompanied by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, took part in the Import Ceremony of the Country Signing Certificate Authority (CSCA), an event led by ICAO officials in Montreal, Canada.The minister highlighted that this development is part of the government’s commitment to modernizing border control systems.
He further explained that the initiative is expected to significantly reduce waiting times at airports and other points of entry both domestically and internationally.
“Our government is focused on boosting efficiency and improving the overall travel experience for Nigerians and international visitors,” he said. “With our advancements in Border Governance and Management, Nigerians can be confident that the days of long waits and manual verification at airports worldwide are coming to an end.”
Tunji-Ojo also emphasized that President Bola Tinubu remains dedicated to finding innovative ways to foster growth and development for the country.The PKI/PKD initiative is an additional step towards enhancing Nigeria’s global ranking and improving the ease of doing business.
The minister noted that this new development, along with other updated government policies, is expected to positively influence the economy, tourism, and national security.
“We are confident that this advancement will benefit the tourism sector and play a crucial role in improving inter-agency collaboration, particularly between the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS),” he said.
Juan Salazar, Secretary-General of ICAO, explained that the PKD system will facilitate the sharing of verified travel documents among member states worldwide. He emphasized the importance of national and international cooperation, as the infrastructure requires multiple authorities to contribute to the verification and authentication of passport and travel document data.
