The Federal Government has launched an investigation into the alleged unauthorised sale of National Identification Number (NIN), following revelations that the personal data of Nigerians were available for purchase online at a fee.
The revelation has sparked widespread concern regarding the protection of individual privacy rights and potential economic repercussions.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, while addressing the issue confirmed he had begun discussions with the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on the matter.
The Ministry of Interior currently oversees the National Identity Management Commission, the body responsible for managing Nigeria’s identity database.
“While I have engaged with my counterpart at the Ministry of Interior regarding this matter, I am confident in their commitment to safeguarding our national identity data,” Dr. Tijani affirmed in a statement released on Wednesday.
He expressed confidence in the ongoing efforts of both the Ministry of Interior and NIMC to address the issue promptly.
Last week, Paradigm Initiative raised the alarm after uncovering instances where NINs, Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), and other sensitive personal information were purportedly available for sale online, citing direct extraction from government databases.
The Executive Director of the organisation, Gbenga Sesan, said that the data being sold on the websites were sourced directly from the government’s databases.
“The problem is not Nigerians because we were able to confirm that what they were selling is NIMC’s data and we have proof. We got the NIN slip of the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani. We got the NIN slip of the number one data regulator in Nigeria, Dr. Vincent Olatunji. We bought them for N100 each to demonstrate that this is not a joke,” he said.
Although declining to confirm specific claims made by Paradigm Initiative, regarding the illicit sale of Nigerians’ personal data, Tijani confirmed that the Nigeria Data Protection Commission had commenced an inquiry into the alleged breach.
