Nigeria Joins ICAO System To End Passport Authentication Delays

The Federal Government has moved to eliminate authentication delays affecting Nigerian passport holders abroad after integrating the country’s Signing Certificate Authorities (CSCAs) into the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) public key directory.

This means Nigerian passports can now be authenticated more easily by border control systems in ICAO PKD member States.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) announced the development in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi.

The importation ceremony took place on Monday at the ICAO headquarters in Montreal, Canada.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, led the exercise, which was carried out to address passive authentication challenges encountered by some Nigerian passport holders at selected foreign border control points.

The NIS said the successful importation of all Nigeria’s existing CSCAs into the ICAO Public Key Directory has established a trusted verification chain, allowing Nigerian passports to be authenticated seamlessly by border control systems across all ICAO PKD member states.

It said the development would strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s travel documents while making border clearance easier for Nigerian passport holders travelling to countries participating in the ICAO PKD.

The NIS described the achievement as part of its continued investment in secure digital identity management and international border security cooperation.

It added that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and underscores the Service’s commitment to strengthening the credibility of Nigerian passports, promoting global interoperability, and enhancing cross-border travel for Nigerian citizens.