The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has warned Nigerians not to disclose or sell their National Identification Numbers (NIN) to unauthorised individuals or organisations in exchange for money, describing the act as illegal and punishable under Nigerian law.
This warning comes after reports surfaced of residents in Anambra State being offered money in return for submitting their NINs—an activity NIMC says violates the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, the Data Protection Act, and the Cybercrime Act.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, the Commission confirmed that it had been alerted to the illegal scheme and, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, had already apprehended suspects involved. The individuals are currently being interrogated and will face legal action.
“The National Identity Management Commission has been notified of the activities of unauthorised individuals or organisations purportedly asking for the submission of the National Identification Number of Anambra residents in exchange for money,” the statement read. “Upon receiving the information, NIMC, in conjunction with DSS and the police, swiftly arrested the culprits... They will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
NIMC emphasized that neither it nor the Federal Government has authorised any third party to collect NINs for financial incentives, and anyone caught engaging in such acts will face appropriate sanctions.
“At no time should NIN holders give out their NINs for monetary compensation. This is against the laws of the Federation,” the Commission warned.
Reiterating a previous advisory, NIMC urged Nigerians not to share their NINs or personal data with unverified platforms or individuals, noting that doing so could lead to identity theft and other forms of cybercrime.
It also reminded citizens that the NIN should only be used by its rightful owner to access verified government or private sector services, and must always go through proper verification processes.
The Commission encouraged members of the public to report any suspicious or unauthorised NIN-related activity through its official communication channels.
