The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has refuted any association with the alleged breach of citizens’ data by a private entity, XpressVerify, following recent reports.
A recent investigative report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) raised concerns about XpressVerify’s purported access to the national identification numbers (NINs) and personal details of Nigerian citizens stored in NIMC’s identity database.
According to the report, XpressVerify allegedly exploited unrestricted access to NINs and personal information, turning it into a monetized service.
In response, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NIMC, released a statement on Sunday, denying any affiliation with XpressVerify. Coker-Odusote clarified that NIMC solely provides NIN verification and other services through licensed partners, emphasizing that XpressVerify is not among them.
The statement said, “We express our gratitude to our media partners and the whistleblowers for bringing this to our attention and wish to assure Nigerians and legal residents that there is no data breach of any sort and the Citizens’ data is safe and secure in the Nigeria’s National identity database.
Furthermore, the commission announced the commencement of a thorough investigation into the matter to ascertain whether any of its tokenization verification agents violated licensing agreements. The investigation aims to determine if there was any breach directly or through sublicensees.
Coker-Odusote reiterated NIMC’s unwavering commitment to data protection and privacy, emphasizing the implementation of stringent security measures to safeguard the data of all enrollees.
She said: “Top-level security is in place to protect the NIN and other personal data of every citizen and legal resident.
“NIMC reaffirms its unwavering dedication to safeguarding, securing, and responsibly managing the data entrusted to us.”
The commission stressed the paramount importance of preserving public trust and confidence in its operations, pledging to maintain the highest standards of integrity and accountability.
