NIMC Warns Nigerians: Don’t Sell Your NIN

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued a strong warning to Nigerians, urging them not to disclose or sell their National Identification Numbers (NIN) to unauthorised individuals or organisations, regardless of any promise of financial reward.

This caution comes after reports emerged from Anambra State where some residents were allegedly being enticed to exchange their NINs for money. NIMC described the practice as illegal and in violation of the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, the Nigeria Data Protection Act, and the Cybercrime Act.

In a statement released on Wednesday by NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Dr Kayode Adegoke, the Commission confirmed that the illegal scheme had been brought to its attention and that swift action had been taken in collaboration with the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force. Several suspects involved in the unauthorised collection of NINs have already been apprehended and are currently under investigation.

NIMC stressed that neither it nor the Federal Government had authorised any third party to collect NINs for monetary purposes. The Commission warned that anyone found participating in or facilitating such activities would face legal consequences.

The statement also reiterated the importance of safeguarding personal data and advised Nigerians never to share their NINs or personal information with unverified individuals or platforms. Doing so, it warned, could lead to identity theft and other forms of cybercrime.

The Commission reminded citizens that the NIN is strictly for accessing legitimate services from government or private sector providers and should only be used in a verified and secure manner. NIMC urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities involving NIN collection to its official channels.