Nigeria ready to introduce digital travel certificate – Interior minister

Nigeria ready to introduce digital travel certificate – Interior minister

Nigeria will soon introduce a Digital Travel Certificate (DTC) to enhance border security and improve the travel experience in line with global best practices, announced Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, Minister of Interior.

Tunji Ojo made this announcement during the closing ceremony of a two-day capacity-building workshop on advanced passenger information/passenger name record (API/PNR) solutions for Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) personnel. The workshop was organized by Newworks and led by specialists from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The Digital Travel Certificate (DTC) will be a digital version of a traveller’s identity, potentially replacing traditional passports. It will include the traveller’s facial image, biographical data, and security features validated through the issuing authority’s public key infrastructure. This initiative aims to streamline and secure international travel by facilitating easier verification of travellers’ identities and vaccination statuses.

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Tunji-Ojo emphasized that introducing the DTC is part of a broader strategy to modernize border control and enhance security. “We are not stopping here. Once we deploy the API and PNR, we will move on to implementing the Digital Travel Certificate,” he said. He also expressed readiness to collaborate with IATA and other global partners on additional border control solutions.

The Controller General of the NIS, Kemi Nana Nandap, highlighted the significance of the training, noting that it was the first of its kind. “This specialized training for API and PNR will make our borders more secure, enable target-based clearance at airports, and enhance our ability to monitor cross-border crimes,” she said.

Nandap commended the minister for his leadership in advancing these technologies, which had been in planning for nearly 14 years without success. The new systems will allow faster and more seamless passenger clearance and provide better foresight regarding who enters the country.

Nigeria ready to introduce digital travel certificate – Interior minister