Nigeria Adds Passport to ICAO Classification System

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced the registration of Nigeria in the Public Key Directory (PKD) and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

This initiative, according to the Minister, aims to improve the world ranking of the country’s international passport, facilitate its passage and strengthen internal security.

On Wednesday in Montreal, Canada, Tunji-Ojo, along with the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap, attended the Country Signing Certificate Authority (CSCA) import ceremony, presided over by ICAO officials.

The Minister, speaking immediately after the event, noted that this development was influenced by the Government’s efforts to modernise border control systems, noting that this is expected to reduce waiting times at airports and other points of entry within and outside the country.

“Our government is particularly keen on increasing efficiency and improving the overall travel experience for both Nigerians and international visitors,” Tunji-Ojo said.

“With our commitment to Border Governance and Management, Nigerians can rest assured that the era of endless waiting and manual checks at airports around the world is over. The President is constantly looking for ways to enable the growth and development of the country. The PKI/PKD is another measure to increase our global ranking and ease of doing business.”

The Minister added that the new development, along with other policies reviewed by the government, is expected to have a positive impact on the economy, tourism and national security.

“While we strongly believe that this will have an impact on the tourism ecosystem, it will also play a critical role in facilitating interagency collaboration, particularly between the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and the lead implementing agency, the Nigeria Immigration Service.”

Explaining the role of the system, Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), noted that the Public Key Directory (PKD) enables the sharing of authentic travel documents between member states worldwide.

He stressed, however, that national and international cooperation is essential, as the infrastructure requires multiple authorities to play their part in the process of verifying and authenticating passport and travel document data.

Speaking on the readiness of the service, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap, said the infrastructure required to operate the new technology is already in place as its full implementation is underway.

“PKD/PKI will be a game changer for us and we are looking forward to seeing how it will transform the face of things. In collaboration with IATA, we are currently training our staff to understand all the modules of the new API/PNR technology,” he said.

Operated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), PKD allows countries to verify the authenticity of e-passports and other travel documents when travelers cross borders.

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a system that uses digital certificates and public-private key pairs to ensure secure communications, data integrity, and document authentication.

Among other things, this development will ensure greater safety in strict compliance with international standards and easy verification.

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