A Nigerian woman has raised the alarm on social media after discovering that her passport registration slip, submitted to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), was later found being used to wrap akara a popular local snack made from fried bean paste.
The shocking incident was revealed by the user identified as @damisi__awe on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). She explained that she had recently completed her passport application at an immigration office, only to receive a disturbing message from a stranger days later.
According to her, someone who had purchased akara was stunned to find that the hot snack was wrapped in an official passport application slip containing her private details. The individual, upon recognizing the personal nature of the document, reportedly reached out to her via WhatsApp and even sent her a photo of the slip as evidence.
“Omo @nigimmigration @NISResponseNG why is it so easy for someone’s privacy to be breached??! Someone just texted me on WhatsApp with a picture of my passport application slip, and it was used to sell akara,” she wrote in frustration.
She added that the document revealed “every single information” about her life, and to make matters worse, the person who messaged her also requested her pictures, further compounding her concern.
Public Outrage Over Privacy Breach
The incident has triggered a wave of criticism and fear among Nigerians online, with many expressing outrage over the carelessness and potential danger involved in such a breach of data by a government institution.
Here’s how some users reacted:
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@iamjackmay: “In 2024, I pointed this out, but @nimc_ng denied any breach. I’ll return to @nigimmigration this year to seek a fix, as I can’t live in a world where I could be easily impersonated.”
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@Nini48530012: “This is a serious data breach that can lead to legal consequences. This is beyond embarrassing.”
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@Theorriginal: “Omo! 😳 Scary things. Government agencies need to be held accountable.”
Concerns About Data Security in Nigeria
This bizarre occurrence has once again raised important questions about how official documents are handled in Nigeria, especially by public agencies like the Immigration Service and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). With rising concerns over identity theft, fraud, and impersonation, many are calling for stricter protocols for the disposal and protection of personal data.
Legal experts have also weighed in, describing the incident as a gross violation of privacy rights, one that may attract legal ramifications under Nigeria's Data Protection Act.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Immigration Service has yet to issue an official statement addressing the matter.
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