The National Identity Management Commission has issued a stern warning to Nigerians against sharing their National Identification Numbers with unauthorized individuals, declaring it will not accept responsibility for consequences arising from such actions.
The warning follows revelations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that more than 2,000 Nigerian citizens have been victimized by fraudsters who exploit their financial desperation by offering modest payments in exchange for sensitive personal data.
According to the EFCC’s findings, scammers are paying victims between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 for their personal information, which is subsequently sold to financial technology companies for approximately ₦5,000, creating a lucrative black market for citizen data.
The EFCC described the scheme as being “largely driven by an army of young Nigerians offering a paltry payment of between ₦1500 and ₦2000 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 ₦5000.”
NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, characterized this trend as “a serious security concern” with “grave consequences for the NIN holders” in a statement issued from Abuja on Sunday.
Adegoke emphasized the commission’s position on liability, stating: “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 commission stressed that careless disclosure of personal data leaves citizens vulnerable to identity theft, fraud, and various criminal activities. Adegoke reminded the public that NIMC has consistently advised against sharing NIN information with unauthorized parties.
“Nigerians have been informed repeatedly in the past by the NIMC not to disclose their NIN to any unauthorised individual or organisation,” he noted, highlighting the agency’s ongoing efforts to educate citizens about data protection.
The commission also directed service providers to implement proper verification procedures for all NINs presented before granting access to services, emphasizing that such verification processes are essential for protecting user identities and preventing fraud.
To enhance security and user control over personal information, NIMC recommended that citizens download the NINAuth App, which is available on both Apple iOS and Google Play Store platforms. The app is designed to provide users with seamless benefits while maintaining better protection and control over their personal data.
