THE National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has raised concerns over a growing trend of data fraud involving the illegal sale of National Identification Numbers (NINs), cautioning that individuals who share their personal data with unauthorized parties will bear the consequences.
This warning comes in the wake of a disclosure by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which revealed that over 2,000 Nigerians have been defrauded by scammers who offer between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 in exchange for their NIN details. These details are then reportedly resold to fintech companies for up to ₦5,000.
In a statement issued yesterday by its Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, NIMC described the situation as a “serious security concern” with far-reaching consequences for data owners.
“The Commission will not be held accountable for any damages resulting from the voluntary sharing of personal information, whether directly or through proxies, in exchange for money or inducement,” Adegoke stated.
He warned that careless disclosure of sensitive data could lead to identity theft, fraud, and other criminal activities, and reminded the public that NIMC has consistently advised Nigerians not to share their NINs with unauthorized individuals or organizations.
NIMC also called on service providers to verify all NINs before granting access to services to safeguard user identities.
The agency further urged Nigerians to use the NINAuth App, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, to better manage and secure their digital identities.
Adegoke concluded by emphasizing that protecting one’s digital identity is a collective responsibility and advised citizens to treat their NINs with the same confidentiality as their bank PINs or passwords.