Probe still ongoing on alleged NIMC data breach—Tijani

Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, says the federal government is thoroughly investigating the alleged breaches in its national data system.

Speaking via his X handle on Wednesday, Tijani said the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) are conducting the probe.

The minister’s response comes amid a report by Paradigm Initiative that the national identification numbers (NINs), bank verification numbers (BVNs), and other personal data of Nigerians were being sold for as low as N100 on unauthorised websites.

NIMC, on June 22, denied having partnerships with the websites like Idfinder.com.ng, Verify.ng, Championtech.com.ng, Trustyonline.com, and Anyverify.com; and warned Nigerians against patronising them.

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However, in a separate interview, Gbenga Sesan, the executive director of Paradigm Initiative, said his organisation bought Tijani’s NIN slip for just N100.

Tijani, who neither confirmed nor denied the data breaches in the X post, said the agencies “are on top of the matter”.

“First, I have engaged my colleague, the Minister of Interior, who supervises the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and I am aware that his ministry and the agency are on top of the matter,” Tijani said.

“Second, the NDPC, a year-old agency under my supervision as minister, has over the last few months created data compliance mechanisms for all MDAs and has since started a thorough investigation as to the circumstances surrounding this alleged breach.”

Speaking further, Tijani highlighted measures his ministry has put in place to reinforce technology application in government.