Godsent Ogbebor
NIMC Warns Nigerians: Don’t Trade Your NIN for Money
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued a strong warning to Nigerians, particularly residents of Anambra State, against giving out their National Identification Numbers (NINs) in exchange for cash.
This follows reports that some individuals were luring citizens to disclose their NINs for monetary gain, a practice the Commission has deemed illegal and punishable under several national laws, including the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, the Data Protection Act, and the Cybercrime Act.
In a statement released on Wednesday by Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, the Commission confirmed that it had received credible information about the illicit activity and, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, arrested those involved.
“Upon receiving the information on the activities of the unscrupulous individuals, NIMC, in conjunction with the DSS and the Nigeria Police Force, swiftly arrested the culprits… They are currently being interrogated and will face the full wrath of the law,” the statement read.
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NIMC stressed that it has not authorised any individual or organisation to collect NINs in return for money and warned that anyone caught engaging in such activities would be prosecuted.
“At no time should NIN holders give out their NINs for monetary compensation. This is against the laws of the Federation. Anyone caught will be dealt with appropriately,” the Commission reiterated.
The public was further cautioned against sharing personal data or NINs with unverified individuals or platforms, as this could lead to identity theft and other cybercrimes.
NIMC urged Nigerians to only use their NINs for legitimate purposes involving verified government or private sector services and to report any suspicious activity through official channels.