The Minister of Interior, 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.
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.
He said the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is ready to implement the system which allows for authenticating travel documents and ensuring compliance with international standards.
“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.
According to him, the initiative aims to reduce wait times at airports and improve the travel experience, benefiting tourism and the economy.
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.
Speaking on the readiness of the service, the NIS Comptroller-General, Kemi Nanna Nandap, assured that necessary infrastructure to drive the new technology is already in place as full implementation begins.
