The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has warned Nigerians against sharing their National Identification Numbers (NINs) with unauthorised individuals or organisations, saying it will not be held liable for any misuse.
The caution follows a disclosure by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that over 2,000 Nigerians have been scammed into selling their data for as little as ₦1,500 to ₦2,000, with the details later resold to fintech companies for up to ₦5,000.
Quoting the EFCC, the commission said, “This fraud scheme is largely driven by an army of young Nigerians offering a paltry payment of between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 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 ₦5,000.”
Kayode Adegoke, NIMC’s head of corporate communications, described the trend as “a serious security concern” and warned that it poses “grave consequences for the NIN holders.”
He said, “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 urged the public to avoid careless disclosures of personal data, noting that it exposes them to identity theft, fraud and other criminal activities.
He reminded Nigerians that they have been warned repeatedly not to share their NIN with unauthorised entities.
He also called on service providers to verify NINs before granting access to services, saying this step is crucial in safeguarding users’ identities.
“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 read.
Adegoke concluded by urging Nigerians to treat their NIN with the same level of confidentiality as their ATM PIN or online passwords, stressing that digital identity protection is a shared responsibility.