By Pius Awunah
The National Identity Management Commission(NIMC) has warned Nigerians against selling their personal information, including that of the National Identification Number (NIN), raising serious concerns over the recent statement attributed to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
The NIMC, in a statement by its spokesperson, Kayode Adegoke, stated that the commission would not be held responsible for any personal information shared by an individual directly or by proxy for financial gain or inducement.
Citing the statement by the EFCC that ” this fraud scheme is largely driven by an army of young Nigerians offering a paltry payment of between N1500 and N2000 to their victims to make them surrender a copy of their information details to them and sell the same information to some Fintech Institutions for about N5000″,he said it was not only of serious security concern but of grave consequences on the NIN holders.
Adegoke said Nigerians have been informed repeatedly in the past by the NIMC not to disclose their NIN to any unauthorised individual or organisation.
“Equally of note is that any NIN presented to access services must be duly verified before granting such services. Nigerians and service providers should note”,the statement, added.
Furthermore, it enjoined the general public to download the NINAuth App on either Apple iOS or the Google Play Store to enjoy seamless benefits, including, but, not limited to protection and security of the NIN, the power to control personal information on the NIN, and many more.
