NIMC warns Nigerians against selling NIN data, says consequences will be severe

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has warned Nigerians against selling their personal information, including their national identification number (NIN), to third parties.

In a statement on Sunday, Kayode Adegoke, head of corporate communications at NIMC, said the commission is deeply concerned by a recent disclosure from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that some Nigerians are engaging in the illegal sale of personal information.

The EFCC, in a post on X, raised concern over a growing fraudulent scheme devised by scammers to swindle Nigerians of their hard-earned money, warning the public to be cautious of widespread ticket discount promos by foreign airlines.

The anti-graft agency said scammers often use teasers such as “promo” or “investment windows” to lure victims into submitting sensitive financial details.

According to the EFCC, the fraudsters then deploy malware to gain unauthorised access to the victims’ accounts, which are used to move funds into digital wallets, typically for cryptocurrency purchases and other laundering activities.

The anti-graft agency said the scheme is mostly powered by a network of young Nigerians who pay victims as little as N1,500 to N2,000 in exchange for copies of their personal information, which is then resold to certain fintech companies for around N5,000.

Reacting to the disclosures, NIMC described the development as a serious national security issue and warned that affected individuals could face “grave” consequences.

“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,” the statement reads.

“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.”

The commission urged members of the public to download the NINAuth app to access a range of benefits, including enhanced protection of their NIN, greater control over their personal data, and other valuable features.