NIMC Assures Nigerians of Safety of Identity Data

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has refuted allegations of a security breach concerning Nigerians’ National Identity Numbers (NIN) and personal information. This denial is based on a statement provided by the Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, Mr Kayode Adegoke, to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Mr Adegoke addressed claims made in a viral video, which suggested that citizens’ personal data had been exposed and was being sold. He characterized these allegations as misleading and reassured the public that their data remains secure. He assured Nigerians that the NIMC is committed to safeguarding their data and that there is no cause for panic.

The commission has implemented measures to protect the NIN of Nigerians and other sensitive information stored in the National Identity Database. Mr Adegoke urged Nigerians to disregard unverified information that could instill fear regarding the safety of their identity data. He reiterated NIMC’s seriousness in protecting personal data and their pledge to enhance security measures against unauthorized access.

The spokesman highlighted that the Director-General, Mrs Abisoye Coker-Odusote, has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter. Mrs Coker-Odusote stated that the investigation aims to ascertain if any of the commission’s tokenization verification agents violated their licensing agreements, either directly or through sub-licensees.

She affirmed NIMC’s dedication to data protection and privacy, promising continuous collaboration with stakeholders to ensure the utmost care of citizens’ identity information.