The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has expressed deep concern over the increasing reports of illegal trade involving Nigerians’ personal data, cautioning the public about the dangers of disclosing their National Identification Number (NIN) to unauthorized individuals.
In a statement released on Sunday by NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, the agency distanced itself from any fallout citizens may face after voluntarily sharing their identity details, particularly for monetary incentives.
This reaction follows alarming revelations from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which reported that more than 2,000 Nigerians have fallen prey to fraudsters operating a scheme that exchanges small sums of money for access to citizens’ sensitive information.
According to EFCC, these fraudsters often described as young individuals acting in groups entice victims with payments ranging from ₦1,500 to ₦2,000 in return for their personal details, including copies of their NIN slips. The fraudulently acquired data is then resold to fintech companies for as much as ₦5,000.
Quoting the EFCC’s findings, the NIMC stated: “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.”
Adegoke described the development as a “serious security concern” with potentially devastating consequences for those who carelessly expose their data.
He further emphasized that NIMC will not take responsibility for any misuse of data willingly disclosed by citizens, either directly or through a proxy, particularly when such disclosures are made for financial gain.
“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 said.
Highlighting the risks, he warned that careless handling of personal data opens the door to identity theft, digital fraud, and other forms of criminal exploitation. He also reminded Nigerians that repeated warnings had been issued against disclosing NINs to unauthorized persons or platforms.
The Commission also directed service providers to take proactive steps in confirming the authenticity of all NINs presented by users before granting them access to services. Proper verification, it said, remains a key element in safeguarding digital identities.
As part of measures to protect users, the NIMC encouraged Nigerians to download and use the NINAuth App, available on both Apple iOS and Google Play Store. The app offers a secure way to manage and control access to one’s identity details.
Adegoke concluded by urging Nigerians to treat their NINs with the same level of secrecy and caution as their ATM PINs and passwords. He stressed that digital identity security is a shared responsibility that starts with individual awareness and caution.
