The Nigerian Government has launched an investigation into the alleged data breach at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), affecting Nigerians’ personal information.
Jerrymusa.com reports that according to Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, the NIMC and National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) are collaborating on the probe.
“This is a serious matter, and we are taking it very seriously,” Tijani said. “The NDPC, under my supervision, has been working tirelessly to ensure data protection in all government agencies, and we will get to the bottom of this.”
Alleged Data Auction
This follows a report by Paradigm Initiative, a social enterprise, that National Identification Numbers (NINs), Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), and other sensitive data were being sold online for a mere N100.
“We purchased the minister’s data on certain websites, and this is a clear indication that the breach is real,” said Adeboye Adegoke, a Senior Manager at Paradigm Initiative.
Although the NIMC initially denied the breach, Paradigm Initiative’s claim has raised concerns about the security of Nigerians’ personal data.
“We assure Nigerians that their data are safe, and we are doing everything possible to prevent further breaches,” said Kayode Adegoke, NIMC spokesman.
Tijani has assured that the matter is being taken seriously, engaging with the Ministry of Interior and leveraging the NDPC’s data compliance mechanisms to investigate the alleged breach.
“We will leave no stone unturned in this investigation, and we will ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” he said.