FG completes ICAO integration to ease passport checks

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Interior, has successfully integrated Nigeria’s Country Signing Certificate Authorities (CSCAs) into the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Public Key Directory (PKD). This significant step aims to eliminate the "passive authentication challenges" that Nigerian passport holders have faced at foreign border control points.

The integration ceremony took place on July 13, 2026, at the ICAO Headquarters in Montreal, Canada, and was led by the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap. By importing all existing CSCAs into the ICAO PKD, Nigerian passports can now be verified instantly and seamlessly by border control systems across all ICAO PKD member states. This establishes a critical "chain of trust," enabling automated systems worldwide to confirm the authenticity and integrity of Nigeria’s e-passports in real time.

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This milestone reflects the Nigeria Immigration Service’s continued investment in secure digital identity management and international border security cooperation, in tandem with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to a statement from the Nigeria Immigration Service, this milestone underscores the Service's ongoing investment in secure digital identity management and international border security cooperation, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The development reaffirms the commitment to advancing the integrity of Nigerian travel documents, promoting global interoperability, and ensuring seamless border clearance for Nigerian passport holders. The ICAO PKD serves as a central repository for member countries to share digital certificates that validate electronic passports, and Nigeria's full participation is expected to reduce delays and enhance security checks.

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This development reaffirms the Service’s commitment to advancing the integrity of Nigeria’s travel documents, promoting global interoperability, including seamless border clearance for holders of Nigerian passports.