The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued a stern warning to Nigerians over the alarming increase in identity theft and data fraud linked to the illegal sale of National Identification Numbers (NINs). The commission stressed that it will not be held liable for any adverse consequences faced by individuals who willingly disclose their NIN details to unauthorised persons or organisations.
This warning comes in the wake of a disturbing revelation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which uncovered a widespread scam involving over 2,000 Nigerians who sold their personal data for amounts ranging between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000. According to the EFCC, this data is then resold to some Fintech firms for as high as ₦5,000 per profile.
In a statement released in Abuja on Sunday, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, described the trend as “a serious national security concern” and emphasized the long-term dangers of compromising one’s personal data for short-term 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 stated.
He warned that the sharing or selling of sensitive information like the NIN could lead to identity theft, cyber fraud, financial crimes, and potentially irreversible legal consequences.
The EFCC’s findings suggest that young Nigerians are actively recruiting unsuspecting citizens to release copies of their personal data in exchange for money. These details are reportedly being sold to third parties—including some financial service providers—who use them to create fraudulent accounts or bypass identity verification procedures.
Experts have warned that this not only violates data privacy laws but also poses severe risks to Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem.
In response, NIMC is advising Nigerians to exercise extreme caution with their digital identities. Citizens are encouraged to treat their NIN with the same confidentiality as an ATM PIN or online banking password.
The commission also urged organisations, especially service providers, to perform proper verification of all NINs presented by customers before granting access to services.
“Nigerians have been informed repeatedly in the past by the NIMC not to disclose their NIN to any unauthorised individual or organisation,” Adegoke reiterated.
To promote safe usage of digital identity, the commission encouraged citizens to download and use the NINAuth App, available on Apple iOS and Google Play Store, to manage their identity securely and track usage in real time.
While NIMC has developed robust infrastructure to ensure the protection of the national database, Adegoke stressed that security is a joint effort. “Protecting one’s identity is a civic duty and a personal responsibility,” he said.
He added that unauthorized disclosure of NIN information not only compromises personal safety but also weakens national efforts to build a secure and unified digital identity system.
As Nigeria advances toward full digitisation of public services and financial systems, NIMC’s cautionary message serves as a timely reminder of the critical need for data responsibility and privacy awareness.