House of Representatives has commenced an investigation into allegations that telecoms providers link National Identification Numbers (NIN) to subscribers’ SIM cards without their consent.

The lawmakers expressed concerns about the risks posed by the unauthorised linkage, particularly the exposure of subscribers to criminal activities and the potential harm to legitimate NIN holders.

The concerns followed a motion sponsored by House member, Patrick Umoh, and House majority leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, during plenary, yesterday.

He argued that the practice violated the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019, meant to protect the privacy and personal data of all Nigerians.

“This action is a clear violation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act and the NDPR, which guarantee the right to privacy and data protection for every Nigerian.

“The linking of NIN to SIM cards without consent exposes citizens to serious risks, including identity theft, financial fraud and other forms of cybercrime,” Umoh stated.

Umoh also highlighted how innocent citizens had been wrongfully implicated in crimes, facing reputational damage, harassment and legal challenges due to unauthorised data linking.

The House resolved to task its committees on communications and interior with conducting thorough investigations into the matter and submitting a report within four weeks.