The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued a repeat warning, disabusing Nigerians from sharing or selling their National Identification Number (NIN) details in exchange for money, adding that it will not be held responsible for any fraudulent activity that may result from such actions.
“NIMC will not be held responsible for any personal information shared by an individual directly or by proxy for financial gain or inducement,” the agency stated in a notice released on X today.
This is not the first time the commission is sounding the alarm on this issue. In recent years, it has repeatedly cautioned against the circulation of NIN details to third parties without proper authorisation. Last year, the commission came under the weight of public scrutiny, where personal data was breached and allegedly sold for a mere ₦190 (13 cents) on a platform called Anyverify. This warning is a part of the NIMC’s ongoing efforts to safeguard national identity data and prevent misuse.
According to the commission, reports have surfaced indicating that some Nigerians were selling their NIN details to middlemen for amounts ranging between ₦1,500 ($0.98) and ₦2,000($1.31). These intermediaries, in turn, allegedly resell the information to suspected fintech platforms for approximately ₦5,000($3.27), potentially exposing unsuspecting individuals to identity theft and financial fraud.
It further urged individuals, government agencies, and financial service providers to diligently verify NIN information before processing transactions or approvals. Failure to do so could result in serious legal and security consequences for all parties involved.
SponsoredNIMC reminded the public that selling or sharing NIN data is not just unsafe. It is a violation of national data protection regulations and may attract criminal penalties.
