Developing an Original Framework for Quantum-Resistant Public Key Infrastructure for Nigerian Government Digital Services

Government digital services relying on public key infrastructure face an existential cryptographic threat from quantum computing, and developing an original quantum-resistant PKI framework for Nigerian government contexts addresses both a cybersecurity and national sovereignty challenge. This study developed an original Quantum-Resistant Public Key Infrastructure Framework for Nigerian Government Digital Services, drawing on post-quantum cryptography standardisation, Nigerian e-government architecture analysis, and expert consultation. A methodology combining technical standard analysis, empirical PKI deployment assessment, and framework development was employed. Technical analysis of NIST-standardised post-quantum algorithms (CRYSTALS-Kyber, CRYSTALS-Dilithium, FALCON, and SPHINCS+) assessed their computational requirements against Nigerian government server infrastructure specifications. Empirical assessment of PKI deployment in six federal agencies through structured interviews with IT security directors revealed that RSA-2048 dominated 94.4 percent of current digital certificate deployments, certificate inventory processes were absent in 83.3 percent of agencies, and quantum threat awareness was adequate in only 16.7 percent. The original Nigerian Government Quantum-Resistant PKI Framework proposes a hybrid transition architecture enabling classical-quantum certificate co-existence during migration, a national government root certificate authority upgrade pathway, agency-specific transition timelines based on data sensitivity classifications, and a Federal PKI quantum readiness assessment process. Expert review by 16 cryptography and PKI specialists confirmed the framework's technical soundness and governance feasibility. The study recommends NITDA commission a national government PKI quantum readiness assessment as the first implementation step.

Keywords: post-quantum cryptography, public key infrastructure, Nigerian government, quantum readiness, PKI migration