The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has cautioned residents of Anambra State and Nigerians against submitting their National Identification Numbers (NIN) to unauthorised individuals or organisations following reports of fraudulent attempts to collect NINs in exchange for money.
The Commission, through its Head of Corporate Communications, Dr Kayode Adegoke, NIMC revealed that it had received credible intelligence on impersonators illegally requesting residents’ NINs — a practice that violates the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, the Nigeria Data Protection Act, and the Cybercrime Act.
Acting on the tip-off, NIMC, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, arrested several individuals allegedly involved in the illegal operation. The suspects are currently being interrogated and will face prosecution.
“The Federal Government and NIMC have not authorised the collection of NINs by any unauthorised persons or platforms. We urge Nigerians to protect their identity and refrain from releasing their NINs for compensation,” the Commission stated.
NIMC reiterated that individuals should only share their NINs with government-approved institutions or trusted private-sector service providers.
The Commission also reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding citizens’ data and urged the public to report any suspicious NIN-related activities via email at [email protected] or through the hotlines 0700-2255-646 and 01923000010.
“We thank our security agencies for their relentless support in preserving the integrity of the national identity ecosystem,” it added.
NIMC warned that anyone found engaging in the unauthorised collection or distribution of NINs would be prosecuted by the law.
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