This comes on the back of the recent alarm raised by Paradigm Initiative that some websites are selling Nigerians’ National Identification Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), International Passport, and other data.

NIMC, in a statement issued on Saturday by its Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, said the names of the websites idfinder.com.ng, Verify.Ng/sign in, championtech.com.ng. trustyonline.com, and anyverify.com.

“NIMC urges the public to disregard any claims or services these websites offer and should not give their data as they are potentially fraudulent and data provided by the public on such websites are gathered and stored to build the data services they illegally provide,” the statement read.

NIMC stated further that Nigerians’ sensitive data have not been compromised as claimed by Paradigm Initiative, adding that it has taken steps to strengthen the NIN database further.

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“At this moment, the Commission assures the public that the data of Nigerians has not been compromised, and the Commission has not authorised any website or entity to sell or misuse the National Identification Number (NIN) amongst all the identities stated in the report.

“The public should know that the Commission has taken robust measures to safeguard the nation’s database from cyber threats- a secure, world-class, full-proof database is in place.

“The commission’s infrastructure meets the stringent ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System Standard, with annual recertification and strict compliance with the Nigerian Data Protection Law.”

The Commission advised Nigerians to desist from giving their data to unauthorised and phishing sites.

On Friday, June 21, 2024, Pan-African social enterprise, Paradigm Initiative, in a statement, expressed worry that several unauthorised websites are claiming to hold and provide access to sensitive personal and financial data of Nigerian citizens for as little as 100 Naira.

“This alarming development presents a major breach of the fundamental rights to privacy, a breach of data privacy rights, and poses significant risks to individuals and the national economy.”

It stated that the unauthorised access to personal data is an infringement on the privacy of Nigerian citizens. It said the dissemination of such information could lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and other malicious activities, which include data owners being targeted by burglars, kidnappers or terrorists who buy data that includes home addresses.