INTERIOR MINISTER PROMISES IMPROVED RANKING AS NIGERIA JOINS GLOBAL DIRECTORY
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Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria’s Interior Minister, has announced the country’s enrolment in the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Public Key Directory (PKD) and Public Key Infrastructure.
According to the Minister, the action is intended to improve the global ranking of the country’s international passport, increase ease of passage, and strengthen internal security.
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 on Wednesday in Montreal, Canada, which was led by ICAO authorities.
The Minister, speaking shortly after the event, noted that the development was informed by the government’s efforts to modernize border control systems, noting that this is expected to reduce the waiting time at airports and other points of entry within and outside the country.
“Our government is particular about increasing efficiency and enhancing the overall travel experience for Nigerians and international visitors alike,” Tunji-Ojo said.
“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.”
The Minister added that the new development, among other reviewed policies of the government, is expected to have a positive impact on the economy, tourism, and national security.
“While we strongly believe this will impact the tourism ecosystem, it will also play a critical role in facilitating inter-agency collaboration, especially between the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and the leading implementation agency, the Nigeria Immigration Service.”
Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), explained that the Public Key Directory (PKD) allows member governments around the world to share legitimate travel papers.
He emphasised, however, that national and international collaboration was critical because the infrastructure required numerous authorities to participate in the process of verifying and authenticating passport and travel document data.
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Speaking about the service’s readiness, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap, indicated that the essential infrastructure to support the new technology is in place as full deployment 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.
The Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a system that combines digital certificates and public-private key pairs to provide secure communication, data integrity, and document authentication.
Among other things, the development will offer greater security in complete conformity with international standards, as well as simplicity of verification
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