The federal government has launched an investigation into the alleged breach of National Identity Numbers of Nigerians by some data verification platforms.
The government said it was also looking into claims that some people have purchased the National Identity Number (NINs) of the Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, as well as that of the National Commissioner for the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Vincent Olatunji.
Olatunji however said the whole issue is being investigated and promised that severe sanctions would be meted out to those who committed infractions on citizens’ data and personal information.
Speaking on the probe launched by the government on the matter during a Programme on Channels TV yesterday, the national commissioner said his commission and other relevant bodies would make the outcome of the investigation known to Nigerians within the next two weeks.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) recently released the identities of five unauthorised portals said to have breached citizens’ data through NIN verification and engaged in unwholesome activities without approval from the Commission.
The NIMC head of corporate communications, Kayode Adegoke listed the names of the portals as idfinder.com.ng, verify.ng/signing, championtech.com.ng, trustyonline.com, anyverify.com, and overly.kremtech.com.ng
He advised citizens to use only NIMC’s selfservicemodification.nimc.gov.ng portals for modification of their NINs.
Olatunji said on Channels that the government would like to know the reasons his NIN and that of the Minister were purchased by those claiming that they purchased them.
“We would like to know the reasons for their actions whether it is for economic reasons, or to embarrass the government, it is important we know how and where they got the NINs,” he said.
He said the NDPC, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, (FIRS), and the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC) among other institutions responsible for the collection of citizens’ data are now working together to unmask unauthorised online platforms/portals collecting citizens data for selfish gains.
Olatunji said he would not disclose details of the investigations on a public forum, but insisted that the government was not folding its arms on the matter.
He described data collection situations in Nigeria as complex as there are over 3 million institutions across the country that are collecting citizens’ personal information (data) without the requisite knowledge and professional acumen on the parts of data Processors and Collectors.
Olatunji said among those collecting citizens’ data are hotels, schools, insurance companies, hospitals, banks, and other financial institutions, saying the NDPC couldn’t monitor the 3 million institutions at the same time and sanction those who breached citizens’ data.
He added it was only a year ago that his Commission had the enabling law to function effectively, stressing that what the Commission was doing currently was to engage all stakeholders and create massive awareness about data privacy, data management and other related issues.
He said the commission would soon begin training over 1,000 processors on the intricacies of data collection and data management.
