COVID-19 test in Nigeria – People are finding their passport numbers on social media for skipping test
The Nigerian government is ignoring the risk of identity theft and sharing the passport numbers of its nationals on social media whom it sanctioned for failing to go through with the post-arrival COVID-19 test.
It put a ban on the owners of the passport numbers blocking them from exiting the country within six months. According to the messages by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, that would be February 5 -July 30, 2021.
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This is the second time the FG is exposing passports details of its citizens, the first one was in January. It said that the PTFCOVID-19 is sanctioning travellers for refusing to go through with second Covid-19 tests after arriving in Nigeria.
Publishing passport numbers to the public puts these owners at risk of identity theft. The FG clearly ignored security as against its commitment to the safety of citizens.
Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, justifies the move saying that the FG wants to ensure that infection, prevention and control (IPC) is properly instituted to minimise spread and exposure of health care workers to the virus.
Identity theft can occur from exposure of this sort and fraudster could use personal details to perpetrate crime.
Those whose passport numbers appear on the list should take note of the suspension by the FG which also makes their passport numbers available to the public.