The Federal Government has strengthened the global authentication and acceptance of Nigerian passports by successfully importing all of the country’s Country Signing Certificate Authorities (CSCAs) into the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Public Key Directory (PKD).
The milestone, achieved through the Ministry of Interior under the leadership of the Minister, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, was marked at a ceremony held on July 13, 2026, at the ICAO Headquarters in Montreal, Canada.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, led the exercise, which was aimed at resolving passive authentication challenges encountered by some Nigerian passport holders at selected foreign border control points.
With the successful import of all Nigeria’s existing CSCAs into the ICAO Public Key Directory, border control systems across ICAO PKD member states can now seamlessly verify the authenticity of Nigerian electronic passports, establishing a trusted chain of authentication and improving international travel experience for Nigerian citizens.
The development is expected to enhance the credibility of Nigeria’s travel documents, reduce delays arising from passport verification issues, and strengthen confidence in the country’s digital identity management system.
The Nigeria Immigration Service described the achievement as a significant step in its ongoing investment in secure digital identity management and international border security cooperation, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to the Service, the milestone underscores its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Nigerian travel documents, promoting global interoperability, and ensuring seamless border clearance for holders of Nigerian passports worldwide.
The Service added that the successful integration into the ICAO Public Key Directory further positions Nigeria among countries with internationally trusted electronic passport authentication systems, reinforcing its commitment to global best practices in migration and border management.
