Dr Ama Onyerinma, Founder & Executive Director, Live Abundantly!®:
Dear Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, It was announced that the Federal Government of Nigeria through a circular dated June 10, 2020, with reference number BW/20/CIR.LET/III/2020 intends to adopt a new COVID-19 measure of retaining the passports of all in-bound travellers except those with diplomatic immunity.
Whilst I am certain this policy was thoroughly evaluated prior to its release, it is worrisome that passports which are the legal property of the issuing country would be taken from the legally assigned bearer which is a violation of their rights. It is true that Nigeria is a sovereign country thus it can dictate the immigration guidelines and withhold the passports of its citizens but it cannot take the passport of international travellers without the permission of the issuing country.
It is most concerning that at a time when we strive to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of thousands of passports shall be collected and co-mingled whilst the rightful owners self-isolate for a two-week period then prove they are COVID-19 negative, in order to retrieve their identity documents, which could have become contaminated through handling by government agents.
Furthermore, the issue of safeguarding these properties whilst in the custody of the Nigeria Immigration Service has yet to be addressed. Where shall these travel documents which are the sole identification for the travellers be housed? Who shall have access to them? What is the guarantee that errant acts shall not occur during the confiscation period which would not compromise the holder at a later date of travel? At a time of heightened cybercrime and identity theft, assurances are necessary for all who shall endure this episode because their work necessitates residency in Nigeria.
Finally, at a time when the focus should be on opening the country for business, investments and tourism, which is essential for economic recovery, having experienced and still enduring the devastating outcome of the pandemic, should the emphasis of the government not be directed to developing innovative means of tracking travellers, creating awareness campaigns and curbing the spread of the epidemic amongst citizens? Indeed, no one wishes to have new cases come into the country and, as such, travellers are required to secure COVID-19 clearance prior to commencing travel; so, why take their passports pending another verification of their COVID-19 status? If safeguarding life and personal property coupled with limiting the spread of coronavirus is the paramount priority, then why create possible exposure through cross contaminations and/or repeated exposure at the airport due to passport handling and return to secure the document?
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