The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has raised alarm over a surge in fraudulent activities involving the unlawful sale of Nigerians’ personal data.
The commission warned that it will not be held responsible for any consequences citizens face after voluntarily disclosing their National Identification Number (NIN) to unauthorized individuals or organisations.
This warning comes in the wake of revelations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that more than 2,000 Nigerians have been duped by fraudsters offering between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 in exchange for their personal data, which is subsequently sold to Fintech companies for up to ₦5,000.
Quoting the EFCC’s findings, NIMC stated: “This fraud scheme is largely driven by an army of young Nigerians offering a paltry payment of between N1500 and N2000 to their victims to make them surrender a copy of their personal information details to them and sell the same information to some Fintech Institutions for about N5000.”
In a statement released in Abuja on Sunday, the NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, described the development as “a serious security concern” that carries “grave consequences for the NIN holders.”
“The NIMC wishes to state clearly that it will not be held responsible for any personal information shared by an individual directly or by proxy for the purpose of financial gain or inducement,” Adegoke declared.
He emphasized that such careless disclosure of personal data exposes individuals to identity theft, fraud, and other criminal activities. He also reminded the public that “Nigerians have been informed repeatedly in the past by the NIMC not to disclose their NIN to any unauthorised individual or organisation.”
The Commission further urged service providers to verify all NINs presented to them before granting access to any services, noting that proper verification is essential in safeguarding the identities of users.
“To enjoy seamless benefits, including protection and control of their personal information, Nigerians are advised to download the NINAuth App on Apple iOS or Google Play Store,” the statement added.
Adegoke concluded by reiterating that the security of digital identities is a shared responsibility. He urged all citizens to treat their NINs with the same confidentiality and care as they would their ATM PINs or passwords.