The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has firmly denied claims that sensitive data of Nigerian citizens has been compromised following allegations of data exposure by unauthorized websites. This assurance was conveyed in a statement by NIMC’s head of corporate communications, Kayode Adegoke, on Saturday.
The controversy arose after Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise, reported the discovery of national identification numbers (NINs), bank verification numbers (BVNs), and other personal data of Nigerians being sold on a website, allegedly for as low as N100. The organisation identified ‘AnyVerify.com.ng’ as one of the platforms involved in this activity.
In response, NIMC clarified that it has not authorized any website or entity to sell or misuse National Identification Numbers or any related personal data. The Commission named several websites, including idfinder.com.ng and anyverify.com, as unauthorized data harvesters not permitted to access or manage sensitive data.
“NIMC has not authorized these websites and urges the public to disregard any claims or services they offer,” Adegoke stated. “These sites are potentially fraudulent, and any data provided by the public on such websites are gathered illegally and used to build their data services.”
Adegoke emphasized that the NIMC’s infrastructure complies with the ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System Standard and adheres strictly to the Nigerian Data Protection Law. The Commission assured that it has implemented robust measures to secure the nation’s database from cyber threats.
“Consequently, the public should know that the Commission has taken robust measures to safeguard the nation’s database from cyber threats. A secure, world-class, full-proof database is in place,” Adegoke continued.
The Commission also advised Nigerians to avoid sharing their data on unauthorized or phishing websites due to the risks of data harvesting and potential compromise. NIMC reiterated its commitment to ethical standards in data protection and warned that any licensed partners or vendors are not permitted to scan or store NIN slips but must verify NINs through approved channels.
“NIMC urges the public to remain vigilant against false information and to rely on verified sources for accurate updates,” the statement added. “The Commission remains committed to providing secure and reliable identity management and upholding the highest level of security for systems and databases, which are critical national assets.”
The Commission is working with security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible for unauthorized data sales and misuse.
