The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has denied allegations of a data breach.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Kayode Adegoke, the Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, addressed recent reports claiming that some websites were offering to sell Nigerians’ data.
The Commission reassured the public that their data had not been compromised and warned against sharing personal information with unauthorized phishing sites.
“The Commission assures the public that the data of Nigerians have not been compromised. NIMC has not authorized any website or entity to sell or misuse the National Identification Number (NIN) or any other identities mentioned in the reports.
“The websites idfinder.com.ng, Verify.ng/signin, championtech.com.ng, trustyonline.com, and anyverify.com are data harvesters not authorized by NIMC to access or manage sensitive data. NIMC urges the public to disregard any claims or services these websites offer and to avoid sharing their data, as these sites are potentially fraudulent.
“The Commission has implemented robust measures to safeguard the nation’s database from cyber threats, maintaining a secure, world-class, full-proof database. Our infrastructure meets the stringent ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System Standard, with annual recertification and strict compliance with the Nigerian Data Protection Law.
“NIMC advises Nigerians to avoid providing their data to unauthorized and phishing sites, which pose the danger of data harvesting and compromising individual data.
“The Commission reaffirms its commitment to upholding ethical standards in data protection, in line with federal government directives and data privacy regulations. Licensed partners or vendors are not authorized to scan or store NIN slips but only to verify NINs through approved channels.
“NIMC is working closely with security operatives to apprehend those masquerading as online vendors, and they will face the full wrath of the law.
“NIMC urges the public to remain vigilant against false information and rely on verified sources for accurate updates. 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 statement read.