Don’t sell your NIN or personal data for N2000 — NIMC warns Nigerians

The National Identity Management Commission has warned Nigerians not to sell their personal data for N1,500 or N2,000.

The spokesman of NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, made this known in a statement he signed on Sunday.

The warning comes amid the rising vulnerability of Nigerians to data theft.

Reacting to the recurring development, NIMC cautioned citizens not to fall prey to mischievous data marketers.

“The National Identity Management Commission has noted with serious concern the recent statement on Nigerians selling their personal information, including that of the National Identification Number (NIN), attributed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“This fraud scheme is largely driven by an army of young Nigerians offering a paltry payment of between N1,500 and N2,000 to their victims to make them surrender a copy of their personal information details, which are then sold to some Fintech institutions for about N5,000. This is not only of serious security concern but also of 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.

“Nigerians have been informed repeatedly in the past by the NIMC not to disclose their NIN to any unauthorised individual or organisation. Equally of note is that any NIN presented to access services must be duly verified before granting such services. Nigerians and service providers should note.

“Furthermore, the general public is by this notice enjoined to download the NINAuth App on either Apple iOS or the Google Play Store to enjoy seamless benefits, including but not limited to protection and security of the NIN, the power to control personal information on the NIN, and so many more,” the commission stated.