The government in Hanoi has ordered the closure of bank accounts lacking biometric verification, affecting over 86 million accounts.

Starting September 1, Vietnam has decided to permanently close more than 86 million bank accounts that did not comply with the new facial biometric authentication requirements. The remaining 113 million accounts have been subjected to verification under the new anti-fraud and anti-money laundering regulations.

The situation has particularly impacted foreigners residing in the Asian country. A Reddit user, a former international contractor, reported being forced to return to Vietnam in person to avoid the closure of his HSBCaccount, as remote solutions for biometric verification were not available.

“This is a very insidious way to do a bail-in while also increasing the surveillance state,”commented Marty Bent.

According to Daniel Batten, researcher and co-founder of CH4 Capital, these measures give the Vietnamese central bank “next-gen financial surveillance ability.”

The Hanoi government justified the introduction of the new rules by citing the increased use of generative AI and sophisticated spoofing techniques to bypass banking security systems. Last May, local police dismantled a laundering network that used fake facial scans and had moved approximately 1,000 billion Vietnamese dong ($39 million).

The new regulations require facial biometric authentication for first-time registration and online transfers over 10 million dong ($379), while combined transactions exceeding 20 million dong ($758) always require biometric verification.

The National Industrial Court has granted an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) from blocking Nigerian roads, or frustrating and shutting down the operations of Dangote refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Limited, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Limited.

The court also restrained NUPENG and other drivers’ associations from embarking on an industrial action or compelling other truck drivers to join in its industrial action.

Emmanuel Subilim, the presiding judge, delivered the ruling on Wednesday following an ex parte motion filed by George Ibrahim, the refinery’s lawyer.

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the non-payment of pensions and gratuities despite government’s claims of meeting its revenue target.

In a post on his X handle on Wednesday, Obi said it was unjust for the government to celebrate revenue growth while pensioners who had served the country were left to contemplate a nationwide protest over unpaid arrears.

He said senior citizens who gave their most productive years in service to the nation deserved to be paid their entitlements promptly.

Obi added that any excess revenue realised by the government should be channelled to settle obligations to pensioners in order to restore their dignity and assure workers that their labour was valued.

He said: “I read with deep concern that our pensioners, men and women who gave the most productive years of their lives in service to our country, have been pushed to contemplate a nationwide protest over unpaid arrears.

“Just last month, Mr. President announced that Nigeria had reached its revenue target. If that is true, then the moral question is simple: why are our senior citizens, who worked, served, and sacrificed, still owed their rightful pensions and gratuities? Revenue growth should first reflect in the lives of the people, especially those in difficult times.

“The excess revenue we celebrate today must not remain on paper. It must be directed to settle our obligations to pensioners, to restore their dignity, and to assure the working population that Nigeria values their labour and service. Anything less is unjust and unacceptable. Good Leadership and compassion are inseparable.”