The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has raised an alarm over the activities of unauthorised individuals and groups soliciting the National Identification Numbers (NIN) of residents in Anambra State in exchange for money.
This fraudulent practice violates several laws, including the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, the Data Protection Act, and the Cyber Crime Act.
Acting swiftly on reports of these illegal activities, NIMC, working alongside the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), apprehended the perpetrators involved in the unlawful collection of NINs. The culprits are currently under investigation and will face legal prosecution.
NIMC has firmly advised Anambra residents and Nigerians at large not to disclose their NINs to unauthorised persons, organisations or platforms. The Commission stressed that the Federal Government has not endorsed any initiative requiring people to submit their NINs for financial incentives, warning that violators will face strict penalties.
The commission reiterated that NIN holders must not, under any circumstance, exchange their NINs for money, as this is against national laws. Earlier, NIMC had warned Nigerians to refrain from sharing their NIN or personal data with anyone or uploading them on suspicious websites. NINs are intended solely for legitimate access to government and private sector services, following proper verification.
In a statement, head of corporate communications at NIMC, Dr. Kayode Adegoke assured the public that proactive measures are in place to clamp down on such fraudulent activities. He urged citizens to report any suspicious NIN collection through nimccustomercare@nimc.gov.ng or call 07002255646, 01923000010.
