ABUJA, Nigeria — The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has warned Nigerians against selling or carelessly disclosing their National Identification Numbers (NIN), amid a rising wave of identity theft and data fraud schemes targeting unsuspecting citizens.

In a statement released on Sunday by NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, the commission said it would not take responsibility for any consequences suffered by individuals who choose to share their data with unauthorised persons or platforms.

The warning comes in response to a disturbing revelation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which recently uncovered a large-scale data fraud scheme in which over 2,000 Nigerians were duped into selling their personal data including NINs for between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000.

According to the EFCC, the scammers resell this information to Fintech companies for as much as ₦5,000.

“This fraud scheme is largely driven by an army of young Nigerians offering a paltry payment… and selling the same information to some Fintech institutions,” the NIMC quoted the EFCC as saying.

Grave Security Concerns

Dr. Adegoke described the trend as “a serious security concern” with grave consequences for affected NIN holders, including exposure to identity theft, unauthorized financial transactions, and other forms of cybercrime.

“The NIMC wishes to state clearly that it will not be held responsible for any personal information shared by an individual directly or by proxy for the purpose of financial gain or inducement,” the statement read.

The commission has consistently warned the public not to reveal their NINs to unknown or unauthorised entities, likening such disclosure to handing over one’s ATM PIN or banking password.

NIMC’s Advisory to the Public

NIMC also issued a stern advisory to Fintech companies and service providers, urging them to properly verify the authenticity of all NINs presented before offering services. This, the agency says, is vital to protecting user identities and upholding the integrity of Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem.

To bolster identity protection, citizens are encouraged to download the NINAuth App available on both iOS and Android which offers a secure platform for NIN verification and authentication.

“Digital identity security is a shared responsibility,” Adegoke said, urging Nigerians to treat their personal data with the utmost confidentiality.

What’s at Stake

This development underscores growing concerns over data privacy in Nigeria, particularly as more services across banking, healthcare, and telecom sectors require NIN-linked verification. Experts warn that leaked identity data can be used for illegal SIM registration, account creation, or fraud all of which can implicate the real NIN owner in criminal activities.

As investigations continue, both the NIMC and EFCC are urging the public to remain vigilant and to report suspicious requests for personal data to appropriate authorities.