Nigerian Passport: Minister Optimistic On Enhanced Global Ranking

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has expressed confidence that Nigeria’s inclusion in the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Public Key Directory (PKD) and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) will improve the global ranking of the nation’s international passport, streamline border control, and enhance internal security.

Tunji-Ojo explained that the initiative aims to reduce wait times at airports and improve the travel experience, benefiting tourism and the economy.

The Minister said the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is ready to implement the system which allows for authenticating travel documents and ensuring compliance with international standards.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Assistant, Media to the Minister, Babatunde Alao, on Thursday night.

The Minister stated this on Wednesday, in Montreal, Canada, alongside the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, when they attended the Import Ceremony of the Country Signing Certificate Authority (CSCA) led by ICAO officials.

The minister highlighted that the initiative is part of federal government’s efforts to modernise border control systems, emphasising that the modernisation is targeted at reducing waiting time at airports and entry points within and outside the country.

“Our government is committed to enhancing efficiency and improving the overall travel experience for both Nigerians and international visitors.

“With our effort on Border Governance and Management, Nigerians can be assured that the era of endless wait and manual verification at airports across the globe is over. The President is constantly seeking means to enable growth and develop the country. The PKI/PKD is another measure to increase our global ranking and ease of doing business,” Tunji-Ojo stated.

The minister added that the new initiative, along with other revised government policies, is expected to positively affect the economy, tourism, and national security.

His words, “We firmly believe this will enhance the tourism ecosystem and foster crucial inter-agency collaboration, particularly between the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigeria Immigration Service, the main implementation agency.”

Secretary-General of ICAO, Juan Carlos Salazar, on his part, elaborated on the system’s role, highlighting that PKD facilitates the sharing of authentic travel documents among member states globally.

He, however, stressed that national and international collaboration was vital as the infrastructure required multiple authorities to play their part in the process of verification and authentication of passport and travel document data.

Speaking on the readiness of the service, the NIS Comptroller-General, assured that necessary infrastructure to drive the new technology is already in place as full implementation begins.

“The PKD/PKI will be a game changer for us, and we can’t wait to see it transform the face of things. In partnership with IATA, we are currently training our staff so that they understand the full modules of the new technology of API/PNR,” she said.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the PKD allows countries to check the authenticity of e-passports and other travel documents when travellers cross borders.

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

Among other things, this development will ensure the enhanced security in strict compliance with international standards, and ease of verification.